Parental Notice and Requests for Language Acquisition Programs

San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education

Administrative Regulation 5145.61

Parental Notice and Requests for Language Acquisition Programs

This Regulation applies to San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education. 

Language acquisition programs are educational programs designed for English Learners (ELs) to ensure English acquisition as rapidly and effectively as possible, and to provide instruction to these students on the state-adopted academic content and English Language Development (ELD) standards through Integrated and Designated ELD.  San Francisco Unified School District currently offers the following language acquisition program options:

• English Plus in General Education provides ELD instruction, along with content-area instruction in English throughout the day. All students are eligible to apply for the English Plus Programs.
• Dual Language Programs (DLI) are K-5 programs taught in a target language (Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, or Spanish) and in English. All students are eligible to apply for grades PK and K-1; demonstration of proficiency is required in the program language for grades 2-8.
• Biliteracy Programs are K-5 programs taught in either Cantonese/English or Spanish/English. All students must be potential English Learners and their home language must correspond with the requested Biliteracy programs. In grades 2-5, proficiency is required in the program language. 
• World Language in Elementary Schools are K-5 programs taught mostly in English and the objective is to expose students to 30-60 minutes per day in the target language: Arabic, Filipino, Japanese or Vietnamese. All students are eligible to apply for the world programs. 
• World Language in Secondary Schools are 6-12 programs that provide up to 5 periods weekly in a target language. 
• Newcomer Programs are designed to help newly arrived immigrant English Learners to adjust to their new language and culture. Only new immigrants who scored Novice English Learner on the Initial ELPAC may apply. They receive more intensive English Language Development (ELD) supports, along with primary language supports and referrals to services.
  • Elementary Chinese and Spanish Newcomer Programs provide instruction in the primary language and at least 60 minutes of Designated ELD.
  • Middle and High School Newcomer Programs provide sheltered content instruction and 45-90 minutes of Designated ELD

The District shall notify parents/guardians at the beginning of each school year or upon the student’s enrollment regarding the process to request a language acquisition program, including a dual-language immersion program, for their child. The notice shall also include the following:  (5 CCR 11309, 11310)
 

1. A description of the programs provided, including structured English immersion
     
2. Identification of any language to be taught in addition to English when the program includes instruction in a language other than English
     
3. The manner in which the program is designed using evidence-based research and includes both designated and integrated English language development
     
4. The manner in which the District has allocated sufficient resources to effectively implement the program, including, but not limited to, certificated teachers with the appropriate authorizations, necessary instructional materials, pertinent professional development, and opportunities for parent/guardian and community engagement to support the program goals
     
5. The manner in which the program will, within a reasonable period of time, lead to language proficiency and achievement of the state-adopted content standards in English and, when the program includes instruction in another language, in that other language
     
6. The process to request establishment of a language acquisition program not offered at the school
     
7. For any dual-language immersion program offered, the specific languages to be taught. The notice also may include the program goals, methodology used, and evidence of the proposed program’s effectiveness.
    

The District shall provide additional and appropriate educational services to English learners for the purposes of overcoming language barriers and academic deficits in other areas of the core curriculum.  (5 CCR 11302)

Process to Address Requests for Language Acquisition Programs
Whenever parents/guardians of enrolled students, and those enrolled for attendance in the next school year, request that the District establish a specific language acquisition program in accordance with Education Code 310, such requests shall be addressed through the following process:  (5 CCR 11311)
 

1. The school shall make a written record of each request, including any request submitted verbally, that includes the date of the request, the names of the parent/guardian and student making the request, a general description of the request, and the student’s grade level on the date of the request. As needed, the school shall assist the parent/guardian in clarifying the request. All requests shall be maintained for at least three years from the date of the request.
     
2. The school shall monitor requests on a regular basis and notify the Superintendent or designee when the parents/guardians of at least 30 students enrolled in the school, or at least 20 students in the same grade level, request the same or a substantially similar type of language acquisition program. If the requests are for a multilingual program model, the District shall consider requests from parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school who are native English speakers in determining whether this threshold is reached.
     
3. If the number of parents/guardians described in item #2 is attained, the Superintendent or designee shall:

1. Within 10 days of reaching the threshold, notify the parents/guardians of students attending the school, the school’s teachers, administrators, and the District’s English learner parent advisory committee and parent advisory committee, in writing, of the requests for a language acquisition program  
    
2. Identify costs and resources necessary to implement any new language acquisition program, including, but not limited to, certificated teachers with the appropriate authorizations, necessary instructional materials, pertinent professional development for the proposed program, and opportunities for parent/guardian and community engagement to support the proposed program goals
    
3. Within 60 calendar days of reaching the threshold number of parents/guardians described in item #2 above, determine whether it is possible to implement the requested language acquisition program and provide written notice of the determination to parents/guardians of students attending the school, the school’s teachers, and administrators
     
4. If a determination is made to implement the language acquisition program, create and publish a reasonable timeline of actions necessary to implement the program. If a determination is made that it is not possible to implement the program, provide a written explanation of the reason(s) the program cannot be provided.