The Board of Education is seeking community comment on a revised policy on the education of English language learners, formerly described as students with limited English proficiency including those students enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.

The tentative revisions to the policy update and clarify language reaffirming the education of English language learners as a high priority for the Montgomery County Public Schools. The revised policy also ensures continued compliance with federal and state mandates regarding the education of English language learners.

The term "English language learners" is the preferred description in the field of second language teaching to describe students whose native language is not English and who have difficulty in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language.

Copies of the revised policy are available in English and translated versions in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. These documents may be obtained from the Department of Communications at 301-279-3391 or through the school system's website (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format -- see link below).

Comments about the policy should be made in writing by September 15, 1999, and sent to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850. All responses will be shared with the Board of Education.