Programs and Services

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:

Rigorous Professional Development: Since 2003 Children First reforms, professional development from the Office of ELLs has reached more than 20,000 participants, including teachers, administrators, school staff and parents through forums, events, institutes, workshops and conferences. Key institutes are typically initiative-related and offer deep, rigorous, ongoing learning e.g., Quality Teaching for English Learners with WestEd, Native Language Arts and Literacy Institutes with Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Margarita Calderon, and ELL Literacy and Leadership Institutes with leaders in the field of literacy. So far this year, we have offered over 50 professional development events covering topics such as literacy, English language arts, native language arts, math, science, social studies, curriculum enhancements, academic language, ELL data, small high schools, languages other than English, and more. These and other offerings are expected to reach more than 6,000 teachers and administrators this year. For a list of upcoming professional development, click here.

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 new programs, 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.

Solutions and Pilot Programs: Are you interested in finding innovative interventions to raise the performance of your ELLs, especially struggling learners? Are you canvassing the many technological and classroom solutions available but can't decide which one might produce results for the ELLs in your classrooms? Click here and read about Office of ELLs-sponsored interventions--EMC Masterpiece Series, Destination Math, Imagine Learning, Achieve 3000, Award Reading English, and Reading Instructional Goals for Older Readers (RIGOR)--that have proven successful in City schools just like yours. Program descriptions include cost, contact information, and demonstration school sites.
Also, if your school would like to collaborate with our Office as a pilot school for a math or literacy solution, contact us at oell@schools.nyc.gov for a list of 2008-09 pilot programs. As a pilot school, your teachers will receive professional development and students will be able to participate in the intervention at no cost to your school.
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 tool kit; 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.

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Key institutes are typically initiative-related and offer deep, rigorous, ongoing learning e.g., Quality Teaching for English Learners with WestEd, Native Language Arts and Literacy Institutes with Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Margarita Calderon, and ELL Literacy and Leadership Institutes with leaders in the field of literacy. So far this year, we have offered over 50 professional development events covering topics such as literacy, English language arts, native language arts, math, science, social studies, curriculum enhancements, academic language, ELL data, small high schools, languages other than English, and more. These and other offerings are expected to reach more than 6,000 teachers and administrators this year. For a list of upcoming professional development, click here. 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 new programs, 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. Solutions and Pilot Programs: Are you interested in finding innovative interventions to raise the performance of your ELLs, especially struggling learners? Are you canvassing the many technological and classroom solutions available but can't decide which one might produce results for the ELLs in your classrooms? Click here and read about Office of ELLs-sponsored interventions--EMC Masterpiece Series, Destination Math, Imagine Learning, Achieve 3000, Award Reading English, and Reading Instructional Goals for Older Readers (RIGOR)--that have proven successful in City schools just like yours. Program descriptions include cost, contact information, and demonstration school sites. Also, if your school would like to collaborate with our Office as a pilot school for a math or literacy solution, contact us at oell@schools.nyc.gov for a list of 2008-09 pilot programs. As a pilot school, your teachers will receive professional development and students will be able to participate in the intervention at no cost to your school. 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 tool kit; 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.	Contacts Maria Santos, Executive Director, Office of English Language Learners oell@schools.nyc.gov Angelica Infante, Deputy Executive Director,Office of English Language Learners oell@schools.nyc.gov Alice Goodman-Shah, Communications & Policy Manager oell@schools.nyc.gov Headquarters Staff 52 Chambers Street, Room 210 New York, NY 10007 Tel.: 212-374-6072 Fax: 212-374-5598 SSO Liaisons For a complete list of ELL Compliance and Performance Specialists by School Support Organization, click here.