English Language Learners are students whose primary or home language is other than English and who need special language assistance in order to effectively participate in school instructional programs. The term English Learner (EL) also refers to those students whose native or home language is other than English, as does the term Limited English Proficient (LEP).
The regional English Language Learners specialist for State Support Team Region 14 is Greg Barlow. Greg provides consultation services to districts in the process of meeting the needs of students who speak English as a second language. The number of such students has steadily grown in the 5-county area served by Region 14, and a sampling of the languages includes Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog (a regional language in the Philippines), Russian, Japanese, and Pennsylvania German (Amish), and Spanish.
The Ohio Department of Education's Lau Resource Center has created Ohio's Support Guide for Teachers of English Learners. The document provides strategies and resources for educators as they work to serve Ohio's English learners and their families. The document also includes a (FAQ) frequently asked questions section to address some of the more common questions the Department has received related to coronavirus (COVID-19) and the ordered school-building closure.
Services to teachers in research-based strategies to meet the needs of English Language Learners are also provided in a one-on-one or small group approach. If you would like to request such guidance, feel free to contact Greg Barlow.