About AAPS English as a Second Language/Title III Programming

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is a language rich district. In any one-year over, 64 different languages can be heard in our schools. Nationally, US census figures reveal that in 2006, 19.7% of people over the age of 5 spoke a language other than English at home, compared to the 17.9% in 2000. In Ann Arbor that number reached 22.8%, up 2.7% from 2000. The Ann Arbor Public Schools provides ESL (English as a Second Language) support to English language learners and their families.  It is one of the most comprehensive ESL programs in Michigan, one that took root in the late 1980’s when international families relocated here to pursue higher education or professional opportunities. Since that time, the face of ESL has become even more diverse, including many families seeking refuge from civil, economic and political unrest around the globe. The ultimate goal for all English Language Learners is personal, social, academic, and civic literacy. Michigan’s ELP (English Language Proficiency) standards establish criteria for our ESL and Title III funded support services. Our district staff has carefully aligned these language proficiency standards with grade level ELA (English Language Arts) outcomes to ensure our English Language Learners have access to full content area curricula K-12.

• ESL supplemental services are provided by certified teachers with ESL endorsement in 24 AAPS schools.
• Bilingual tutors-translators work closely with new families and students to facilitate their successful participation in our schools.
• AAPS hosts a Community ESL Advisory Committee comprised of local agency and organizations that reach out to families of English Language Learners (ELL’s).
• English Language Proficiency Assessments (ELPA) are administered annually as required by the Michigan Department of Education and upon enrollment for new students; district assessments monitor achievement throughout the year.
• Title III federal funding provides additional supplemental support in the form of “extended day and summer school” for Title III eligible students.
• AAPS elementary schools have a specially designed report card for ELL students (215kb PDF) which complements the standard report card for all elementary students to ensure we are appropriately monitoring language and academic skill acquisition.
• ELL students in grades K-12 have access to other highly effective programs such as Read 180/Systems 44 and FASTT math.