• Purpose

    The Language Policy at Benteen Elementary establishes clear guidelines and support for effective language instruction and acquisition for all students. It fosters a love for language learning, encourages the development of proficiency in an additional language beyond students’ mother tongue, supports the maintenance of native language fluency, and ensures the implementation of the PYP program through inquiry-based language instruction. This policy applies to every student attending Benteen Elementary and is designed to align with the state standards of Georgia, local, state, and federal regulations, as well as the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Developed collaboratively by the Pedagogical Leadership Team, with input from parents, staff, and the community, the policy is reviewed annually to ensure ongoing alignment with the evolving needs of our school and the guiding principles of the International Baccalaureate mission and vision.

    Language Philosophy

    At Benteen Elementary, language is an essential tool to developing global awareness, intercultural awareness, cognitive development, and open-minded global citizenship for the 21st century. We believe that biliterate students gain a unique ability to engage in diverse experiences—mentally, socially, and academically. Our positive school environment allows all stakeholders to be actively see, hear, and use English and Spanish to foster bilingualism and biliteracy for all (Soltero, 2016). We believe that language is everyone’s responsibility. In support of these beliefs, Benteen Elementary supports language development through a variety of approaches.

    Language Practices

    Language instruction within the Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Benteen Elementary includes reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing skills, interpreting and understanding drawings,, and other visual displays. Our school environment reflects our commitment to bilingualism by ensuring that all classrooms have labels in both English and Spanish, creating a print-rich setting that supports language development. Additionally, we reinforce this dual-language approach by conducting meetings, assemblies, and award recognition ceremonies in both languages, fostering an inclusive and linguistically diverse community.

    Students engage in a variety of learning experiences designed to develop strong reading and language skills. Instruction is aligned with research-based approaches from the Science of Reading, ensuring that students

    receive systematic and evidence-based literacy instruction. All kindergarten through fifth grade students receives literacy instruction using the state standards of Georgia and Benchmark Advance curriculum which provides literacy skills and content knowledge in English. Students in our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program receive instruction through our Benchmark Adelante providing literacy skills and content knowledge in Spanish. Both programs align with the Science of Reading and address all elements of language comprehension and word recognition.

    Through these literacy programs, we integrate transdisciplinary units of inquiry, allowing students to make meaningful connections between language learning and their exploration of broader concepts across disciplines. Literacy instruction is intentionally woven into units of inquiry, providing authentic opportunities for students to read, write, and communicate within real-world contexts and embrace opportunities for agency. This approach ensures that language learning is not isolated but serves as a foundation for constructing knowledge across subjects, fostering deeper understanding while acknowledging perspective, and critical thinking.

    Assessment of Language Learning

    At Benteen Elementary, language assessment is an ongoing process that informs instruction and supports student growth in all language domains. Formative and summative assessments, including anecdotal records, rubrics, student reflections, and performance-based tasks, provide insight into students’ reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing skills. These assessments guide instruction, allowing teachers to differentiate and support individual learning needs. Standardized assessments and language proficiency tools provide additional insights into students' development, ensuring that instruction is responsive to their needs. Language assessment is also embedded within transdisciplinary units, allowing students to demonstrate their language skills in meaningful, real-world contexts.

    Specialists Supporting Language Acquisition

    At Benteen Elementary, specialists play a vital role in supporting language acquisition across multiple disciplines. Specialists provide instruction in music, world languages, art, physical education, and talent development, enriching students’ language experiences through meaningful and interactive learning. All specialist areas are intentionally connected to transdisciplinary units, allowing students to develop language skills in authentic and diverse contexts.

    Through music, students explore rhythm, cultural storytelling, and introductions to songs in English and Spanish, reinforcing language patterns and expression. In art, students engage with visual literacy by interpreting and discussing works of art, enhancing their descriptive and critical thinking skills. Physical education promotes communication and collaboration through instructional language, game strategies, and reflective discussions. World language instruction further strengthens students’ bilingual proficiency, while talent development encourages advanced problem-solving and creative expression, all of which contribute to language growth.

    By integrating language into specialist instruction, we ensure that students develop literacy skills across disciplines, deepening their understanding and engagement with the PYP transdisciplinary framework.

    Support Staff and Services

    Benteen Elementary fosters a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. We recognize that students arrive with a variety of learning needs that affect readiness and ability. We aim to meet each student with support by providing the following programs.

    · Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS): a problem-solving process facilitated by a MTSS chair to help teachers and parents identify strategies and programs that may alleviate academic, attendance, or behavioral issues a student may demonstrate.

     

    · Early Intervention Program (EIP): a service targeting students who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade level performance in reading and/or mathematics. Teachers implement the program using an inclusion, reduced class size or pull-out model to provide additional instructional support to help students who are below grade level obtain the necessary academic skills to reach grade level performance in the shortest possible time.

     

    · English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): serves students who speak another language other than English who need differentiated support to access language skills.

     

    · Gifted and Talented (GATE): serves students who have demonstrated through a variety of assessments that they have a high mental ability, exceptional creativity, and/or high problem-solving ability.

     

    · Special Education Program (SPED): serves students by providing specific support services, strategies and/or supportive staff for specific learning or medical needs in the least restrictive learning environment based upon Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

     

    Language Support for Students Acquiring English

    Currently, Benteen supports students whose mother tongue is Spanish and French. Each of these students has a different readiness level and ability. As part of the Atlanta Public Schools, we have support for these students in place to aid in their transition to learning via a new language.

    The goal of the Atlanta Public Schools ESOL program is to enhance language acquisition and to introduce and practice/develop transdisciplinary skills used in the classroom. Students enter the program through the following process: First, a home language survey is given to all students to identify the mother tongue language spoken in the home. Based on survey results, students whose home language is not English are given a district approved assessment, the W-APT (WIDA ACCESS Placement Test) to determine eligibility in the program. The ACCESS (Assessing Comprehension communication English State – to State) is given in the winter to determine eligibility and language proficiency level for the upcoming year. The teacher is responsible for assessing students’ language proficiency on a regular basis. The identification of proficiency determines eligibility in the ESOL program.

    Teachers use ACCESS data to help students develop and enhance their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. All teachers receive specialized professional development monthly to support students from the district ESOL department. Teachers also receive support during their weekly professional learning community (PLC) from instructional coaches and/or the lead ESOL teacher. Through the Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante curriculum programs, teachers are better able to better serve students language usage functions through their mother tongue concepts.

    Dual Language Immersion (DLI)

    Students in our Dual Language Immersion program are taught literacy and social studies in English and math and science in Spanish. Students participating in this model spend a portion of their day learning in English and Spanish to promote bilingualism, biliteracy, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding.

    Students may enroll in the DLI program in kindergarten or first grade, depending on space availability. Students are not removed from the DLI program due to behavioral challenges or learning disabilities but instead supported through our inclusion services as needed.

    Media Center

    Benteen Elementary’s media center serves as a vital resource for students to maintain language in their mother tongue. Benteen Elementary's media center offers a continuously growing collection of multicultural and multilingual texts and online tools for independent reading and research in My Backpack. Teachers prioritize incorporating the media center into their instructional plans, ensuring it is an integral part of student learning. The Library Media Specialist provides mini lessons for classes on a wide range of topics, including language development, writing, reading, science, and social studies, further enhancing our students' academic experiences.

    Students are able to engage in comprehension assessments through Accelerated Reader. . Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in reading competitions that encourage a love for literature, strengthen comprehension skills, and promote healthy academic competition. These competitions celebrate students' reading achievements and foster a culture of literacy across grade levels."

    Additionally, the Library Media Specialist provides opportunities for students to engage in technology-based explorations like coding. Students use the skills that they have learned to show their agency by entering into academic competitions like Science and Technology fairs.

    Family Engagement and Resources

    Benteen Elementary offers language support for parents through multilingual communication, including but not limited to, PTA meetings, and translation services. Additionally, we provide English language translation services for non-native speakers to help them stay engaged in their child’s education. To further support families, we host parent-teacher conferences and organize literacy nights, offering practical strategies for parents to assist their children with learning at home.

     

    Citations

    Soltero, S. W. (2016). Dual language education: Program design and implementation. Heinemann

     

    Review and Revised October 31, 2025