The Office of English Language Learners provides ELLs, former ELLs, immigrants, and their families with equity and access to an excellent education through a variety of ways, including:

• Targeted Funding: Grants from the Office of ELLs target high-needs areas and program models ripe for expansion, providing funding for schools to plan, strengthen and share what works. Funding is provided to support Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) and Long-Term ELLs, Dual Language planning, implementation and technology programs, and Small School models for ELLs. Also, funding is available to support Demonstration Sites (e.g., SIFE, Dual Language) where best practices have been identified and staff is willing to open their doors to share their practices and strategies with other schools. For more information about funding opportunities, contact our office at oell@schools.nyc.gov.

• Networking and Support through Major Initiatives: Guided by student performance data and informed by school-based needs, the Office of ELLs spearheads several major initiatives to address the academic success of ELLs in all areas, e.g., school planning, community outreach, language development and content areas, and ELL subpopulations. Some of the Office’s main initiatives include The Dual Language (DL) Network, The ELL Literacy Initiative, The ELL Social Studies Initiative, The Language Allocation Policy (LAP), Mathematics, The Native Language Arts Initiative, ELL Parent Outreach, and SIFE. For a list of current initiatives, click here.

• Technical Assistance: ELL Compliance and Performance Specialists (CPSs) provide specialized technical assistance on ELL-related matters (e.g., quality reviews, LAP, CR Part 154, Title III) through group workshops, school-based visits, and administrative support. CPSs also provide technical assistance by collecting and using demographic and performance data to inform service improvement efforts; supporting development and implementation of grants and initiatives within schools; and ensuring appropriate and compliant delivery of instructional and programmatic services for all ELLs. For a list of district-based CPSs and their contact information, click here.

• Pilot Programs: The Office of ELLs identifies promising ELL program models and interventions and gives schools the opportunity to pilot these programs. For instance, three years ago a small group of schools piloted the Math and Parent Partnerships (MAPPS) program to engage ELL parents in mathematics learning. The program has reached hundreds of parents and students and continues to expand. Other pilot programs and academic interventions include Achieve 3000, Imagine Learning, Award Reading, River Deep-Destination Math, Rigor, Math A and Navigation Math. For more information, contact our office at oell@schools.nyc.gov.

• Resource Development: The Office of ELLs works with experts from the field as well as internal practitioners to identify and/or develop needed resources for ELL planning and instruction. Resources include Native Language Libraries (in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Asian Languages); translated glossaries; the Language Allocation Policy Toolkit; the ELL Parent Information Case (EPIC); and soon-to-be published lessons and units of study. Also, the Office of ELLs website provides various types of information for parents, teachers, administrators, policymakers, advocates and the general public.