Jefferson County Schools strives to create a learning environment that encourages students' pride in their cultural heritage and to provide the cognitive and effective support to help all students achieve academic success.

The Jefferson County Schools Comprehensive English Learner Plan serves as the district’s Migrant Education Plan (MEP).   All students identified as “migrant” will have equal access to all Jefferson County programs on the same basis as non-migrant students.

The goals of the Jefferson County School District’s English as a Second Language Program (ESL) are to ensure that:

• English learners acquire full proficiency in English as rapidly and effectively as possible and attain parity with native speakers of English.

• English learners, within a reasonable period of time, achieve success through demonstration of mastery of the same rigorous College and Career Readiness Standards in the classroom and on required assessments that are expected of all students.

• Classroom teachers and administrators understand and accept the specific language acquisition needs of English learners and actively seek ways to better serve this population.

• Non-English speaking parents are provided access to participate in their child’s education on an equal basis as their English-speaking peers, including, to the extent possible, providing communications in a language and format parents understand, timely notification of the progress of language acquisition of their child, and opportunities to participate in and advance their own learning.

These goals focus on providing equal educational opportunities to students who have a Non-English Language Background (NELB) and who are Limited-English Proficient. This includes helping all English Learners (ELs) develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English to a level of proficiency that allows them to compete with their English-speaking peers academically, as well as facilitating access to participate in the mainstream activities of the school.