Federal Programs

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended in Dec. 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) makes it clear that Congress expects local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools receiving federal funds to ensure that parents are actively involved and knowledgeable about their schools and their children’s education. The law requires schools to give parents many different kinds of information and notices in a uniform and understandable format and, to the extent practicable, in a language that the parents can understand.  For the full Parental Notification,click here.

ESSA

In December 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law. ESSA amended and reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.  For details on this act click here.

Plan for Hiring Teachers Working With English Learners

All teachers of any language instruction program for English Learners (ELs) need to be fluent and competent in the four domains of language assessed by the English Language Proficiency Assessment:  reading, writing, speaking and listening.  If personnel has been previously hired without these skills, the district needs to offer help to build the needed fluency.

A teacher's fluency in listening and speaking could be documented and evaluated during the interview process.  Perhaps one person in the interview could be responsible for noting listening mistakes, miscues, grammar and syntax mistakes, and judge the level of fluency for both speech and listening.

Reading may be evaluated through the reading and responses that show understanding of the application process.  Reading may be satisfied through the college transcript if from an English speaking university.  The district may also use a shelf reading comprehension assessment.

Writing fluency is more difficult to ensure.  Unless the application requires a writing sample, the district might encourage a 15 to 20 minutes writing sample during the teacher interview.  Ideally the topic will vary.  This sample is best done on site so that the interviewee will have no outside editing.

"TEACHER ENGLISH FLUENCY - Each eligible entity receiving a subgrant under section 3114 shall include in its plan a certification that all teacher in any language instruction educational program for limited English proficient child that is, or will be, funded under this are fluent in English and any other language used for instruction, including having written and oral communications skills.

Homeless
Grainger County Schools ensures homeless students have equal access to the same free appropriate public education as provided other students.  The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Improvement Act, last updated by congress on July 27, 2007, gives children and youth in homeless situations the right to go to school, no matter where they live.
Homeless students are typically identified by school personnel and the Grainger County Schools Liaison, Daniel Bishop.  Homeless students are further identified through coordinated services and contacts with shelter workers and service providers.  Please contact one of the persons below if you lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence: