Department of Multilingual Learners

See directory for a full listing of all of our EL Teachers!

In BSD, English Learner (EL) support is designed to help students who are learning English as an additional language develop the skills they need to succeed in both academics and everyday communication. Our goal is to ensure every student feels confident, included, and supported as they grow in their English language abilities.

Each school has a team of EL Teachers who offer specific instruction tailored to each student’s level of English proficiency. EL Teachers work closely with classroom teachers to provide an additional layer of support, whether through small group instruction, one-on-one assistance, or in-class collaboration. Through EL Teacher support, students not only strengthen their language skills but also build the confidence needed to fully participate in all aspects of school life. We celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity as a strength, and we’re committed to helping every English learner thrive.

Furthermore, there is a dedicated team of Multilingual Liaisons working across the district to be the bridge between families, students, and the school. They speak the home languages of many EL students and help to build strong connections between school and home. Overall, multilingual liaisons are essential partners in helping EL students and their families feel welcomed, informed, and empowered throughout their educational journey.

Our district offers a range of inclusive programs to support the academic and social success of multilingual learners and their families:

• Co-Teaching: Many schools, including Champlain Elementary, Integrated Arts Academy, Edmunds Middle, and Burlington High School, use a co-teaching model. This approach pairs classroom teachers with EL specialists to deliver instruction that supports both language development and grade-level learning.
• Newcomer Classes: At the middle and high school levels, EL teachers lead specially designed classes for students new to English. These classes focus on academic content while building vocabulary, grammar, and language skills in a supportive environment.
• Parent University: A cornerstone of family engagement, Parent University offers free classes for multilingual families, including English language, technology, parenting, math, nutrition, and more. It’s a welcoming space for learning and connection.
• Heritage Language & Acquisition Program: This program offers opportunities for students to maintain and develop their heritage languages through year-round classes. It honors and celebrates students’ linguistic and cultural identities.

Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to equity, inclusion, and multilingualism across all grade levels.

When parents register students to attend public school in Vermont, they fill out a Home Language Survey. This is a federal requirement of all public schools in the United States. In the Burlington School District, the Home Language Survey is part of the registration process.

If a parent answers a question with any language other than English, the district is required to either seek additional information and/or test the student to determine eligibility for the program.

Once the home language survey determines the student could be eligible, the student meets with a teacher who checks the child’s English proficiency through the MODEL screener. If the student qualifies for EL services, the district places students in the appropriate learning environment as quickly as possible.

EL services vary depending on your child’s school and their level of English proficiency:

Elementary Schools: Students may receive support through either push-in services—where an EL teacher works alongside the classroom teacher—or pull-out services, where students work in a separate setting for focused language instruction. For students new to the country, full-day newcomer programs may also be available.

Middle Schools: Students are scheduled into EL classes based on their English proficiency level. These classes provide dedicated time with an EL teacher to build language skills and support academic growth.

High School: Depending on their proficiency level, students may be placed in sheltered classes taught by EL-certified teachers in core subjects such as reading, English, social studies, math, and science. Students with higher proficiency may take only mainstream classes. Many co-taught courses are offered, where an EL teacher and a mainstream teacher share instructional responsibilities to better support language development within academic content.

While many countries advance students based on benchmark tests, the U.S. education system primarily places students according to their age—especially in elementary and middle school.

Children who turn 5 before September 1 are placed in kindergarten, age 6 in grade 1, age 7 in grade 2, and so on. In rare cases, parents may request that their child be placed in a lower grade, subject to school approval.

At the high school level, students who are 14 years old (or older) by September 1 are typically placed in grade 9. If a student has academic records from their home country showing successful completion of high school-level coursework, they may meet with a school counselor to review transcripts and determine which credits can be transferred. This process helps determine the most appropriate grade placement and course schedule.

Vermont is part of the WIDA consortium, a group of states that uses the same English language assessment—the WIDA test—to meet federal requirements for measuring students’ English proficiency and progress.

All students who are eligible for EL services take the WIDA ACCESS for ELs each year. Scores are reported on a 6-point scale. In Vermont, if the student scores below a level 5 overall proficiency level, the student continues to be eligible for services.

All students who qualify for English Learner (EL) services are required to take the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessment each year. This test measures English language proficiency and reports scores on a 6-point scale.

In Vermont:

• Students who score below Level 5 overall remain eligible for EL services.
• Students who achieve a Level 5 or higher exit the EL program. These students are then monitored for two years to ensure they are succeeding in mainstream classes without additional language support.

Parents have the right to decline EL services for their child. However, participation in federally mandated testing, including the WIDA ACCESS assessment each spring, is still required.