The content on this site is no longer being updated. Please visit https://www.gadoe.org for the most current information from the Georgia Department of Education.

Working to improve student achievement through a wide spectrum of programs.
DIVISIONS
Federal Programs
School Improvement
College Readiness
ESOL and Title III
Languages and International Education
Gifted Education

CONTACT INFORMATION
Cori Alston
Program Manager

1770 Twin Towers East
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30334
  calston@doe.k12.ga.us

MeAnne Jones
Secretary
ESOL/Title III

 (404) 463-0505
 (404) 651-8582
  mejones@doe.k12.ga.us

 ESOL Staff List

 District Coordinator List

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ESOL/Title III

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a state-funded instructional program for eligible English Learners (ELs) in grades K-12 (Georgia School Law Code 1981, § 20-2-156, enacted in 1985). The ESOL program is a standards-based curriculum emphasizing academic and social language proficiency. ESOL coursework is based upon the WIDA Consortium English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards. Classroom teachers integrate these ELD standards with the Georgia Performance Standards to enable ELs to both communicate in English and demonstrate their academic, social, and cultural proficiency. Instructional approaches, both in ESOL and general education classes, ensure that the needs of Georgia’s ELs are accommodated. To the extent practicable, it is appropriate to use the EL’s home language as a means of facilitating instruction and providing parents with school-related information.

Title III is a federally-funded program that provides eligible Local Education Agencies with funding to supplement those ESOL services already in place. School districts with large EL populations receive direct Title III allocations, while school districts with lower incidence populations are grouped into the “Georgia Title III Consortium”. The Title III Consortium allows these “low-incidence” districts to access Title III funds typically available only to districts with greater numbers of ELs. Both ESOL and Title III hold students accountable for progress in, and attainment of, English language proficiency. Upon attainment of English language proficiency, students exit from supplemental language services.

Georgia Title III Consortium

The Georgia Title III Consortium is comprised of those districts whose EL student numbers do not meet the threshold above which a district may receive an individual ($10,000 minimum) Title III sub-grant. As federal Title III funding varies year-to-year, so does the minimum “threshold” number of ELs. In 2010, districts with fewer than 57 ELs were included in the Title III Consortium. In 2009, this number was 53 and in 2008, districts with fewer than 63 ELs were considered “Consortium” districts.

WIDA Consortium

Since 2006 Georgia has been part of the WIDA Consortium a group now consisting of 27 member states. Together with our colleague-states, we work in close collaboration with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER), the Center for Applied Linguistics and MetriTech to ensure that our English Language Proficiency assessment (ACCESS for ELLs) and our ESOL teaching standards remain reliable and valid across administration years. Click on WIDA for an overview and to learn more about our consortium’s K-12 English Language Development (ELD) Standards and the assessments used with ELs (W-APT screener and ACCESS for ELLs).



GaDOE Guidance
  SBOE Rule 160-4-5-.02 Language Assistance: Program for English Learners (ELs)
  2011-12 ESOL Resource Guide
  Translation/Interpretation Guidance
  Requirements for District Serving ELs
  Allowable Activities for Immigrant Funding
  ESOL Form Bank
  Limited Formal Schooling and Students with Interrupted Education
  EL Graduation Guidance and Course Information
  EL RTI Guidance
  Predicting ELL Success: EOCT Report

Federal Resources
  Title IX, Part E: How to Provide Equitable Services to Private School EL Students
  2011 Letter – Enrollment Procedures
  DOJ/OCR Enrollment Procedures FAQs
  OCRs Blueprint for a District ESOL Plan
  2008 Supplement, Not Supplant Guidance
  2008 Title III Final Interpretations
  2006 Title I LEP Final Interpretations
  Title III Law

Title III Monitoring
  Title III Monitoring Report Sample Template
  2010-2011 Title III Monitoring Protocol
  2010-2011 Memo – Title III Self Assessment Report
  2010-2011 Title III Self Assessment Report Form

Accountability
  How Georgia Calculates Title III AMAOs
  2011-12 AMAO 1 target & updated Performance Bands
  2010 Title III AMAO Final Determinations
  2009 Title III AMAO Final Determinations
  2008 Title III AMAO Final Determinations
  Parent “Failure to Meet AMAO” Notice – English
  Parent “Failure to Meet AMAO” Notice – Spanish

Professional Learning
  2011 RTI and ELLs Webinar Series
  Activities Celebrating Diversity
  2011 CLIMBS Training