Policy - IHBEA

POLICY: IHBEA

EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/13/16

CANCELS SHEET DATED: 9/23/03

REVIEWED BY POLICY COMMITTEE: 5/24/16

PROGRAM FOR LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT STUDENTS/

LAU PLAN

The RSU #74 Board recognizes that there may be some students attending RSU #74 schools for whom English is a new or second language. These students may be significantly challenged as they acquire or improve English proficiency at the same time they are learning the knowledge and skills associated with the content standards of the system of Learning Results. In order to ensure equal educational opportunity, RSU #74 will provide a program for students who are limited in English proficiency.

To that end, the Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for developing and implementing RSU #74’s “Lau Plan.” The Lau Plan will describe:

A. How students will be identified as being from a non-English language background;

B. How such students will be assessed to determine their English language proficiency level and their need for support in content areas;

C. The types of services RSU #74 will provide limited English proficiency students to meet their English language acquisition needs and support in content areas;

D. How limited English proficiency students will be evaluated for the purpose of determining when to reduce services or exit them from the language support services when they are ready to benefit from an all-English Learning Results aligned curriculum, and how their progress will be monitored after they have stopped receiving LEP services; and

E. How RSU #74 will evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the language support program for limited English proficiency students.

The Lau Plan will also describe how the school unit will communicate with limited English proficient parents.

RSU #74 will comply with all applicable federal laws and/or regulatory requirements if federal funds or grants are utilized for limited English proficiency programs.

Legal References: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d

P.L. 107-110 (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)

20-A M.R.S.A. § 15670(18)

Ch. 127 § 3.02 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rule)

Commissioner’s Administrative Letter No. 24 (December 9, 2003)