Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
District 49’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) team supports the growth of every multilingual learner, so each student becomes academically and socially fluent. The CLDE program provides rigorous instruction to multilingual learners to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, so they achieve grade-level proficiency and become successful in the workforce and post-secondary environments. The Board of Education expects the entire district staff to take ownership in assuring our multilingual learners demonstrate language proficiency and ultimately improve in achievement. CLDE teachers and paraprofessionals empower each learner, through differentiated instruction, research-based instruction and assessments and 21st century skills. As a team committed to student success, the program leverages student and family assets in order to create productive citizens in a global society.
A copy of the department handbook can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wauw_YNHqgu60Q1Js2mXIE6Y7wboxuMtlqHBt2FcV-o/edit?usp=sharing
Elementary school English language learners typically receive intensive English language development daily. Many CLDE teachers provide this service utilizing a “pull-out” model. This means the students are pulled out of the general education setting for this intensive English instruction. Pull-out never occurs during core instruction, and many teachers utilize supplementary curriculum supports to address the skills and content students are learning in their core instruction.
Some teachers and paraeducators offer a "push-in" and co-teaching model to facilitate English language acquisition within the general education classroom. By providing accommodations within the students' general education setting, students learn along with their peers and have access to the curriculum.
The following skills are emphasized: social communication, academic vocabulary, grammar, reading strategies, writing skills, as well as the use of technology to better access curriculum. Teachers have access to the Colorado Department of Education approved intervention programs Imagine Learning and Lexia to master reading and speaking skills on technology. Accounts can be accessed at home to help fill literacy gaps in students.