The proposed framework for effective ESL education consists of 7 areas of focus: Continuum of ESL services; development and implementation of ESL programs of study; associated psychological, sociocultural and academic support; funding support; professional standards; research and knowledge development; and infrastructure to support ESL reform. Figure 4 provides an illustration of the proposed framework.

Figure 4: The proposed framework for effective ESL education and services

AREA OF FOCUS #1: CONTINUUM OF STANDARDIZED ESL SERVICES
Identification, Initial Assessment, Placement, Explicit ESL Instruction, Tracking

The following actions will promote continuum of standardized ESL services:

• Develop standardized instruments and procedures for identification of ESL learners
• Develop standardized instruments and procedures for initial assessment of ESL learners that focus on first and second language proficiency, academic and socio-psychological profiles of students, reading, writing and math skills, and other special needs
• Establish guidelines and procedures for placement of ESL learners
• Mandate that ESL learners are only placed in schools with explicit ESL programs which include academic and language support
• Establish standards for ESL instruction that ensure daily explicit ESL instruction by qualified ESL teachers of ESL for ESL learners at beginning through advanced levels of English fluency
• Develop and mandate implementation of ESL programs of study with a strong focus on structured, explicit ESL instruction
• Develop and mandate implementation of a province-wide tracking system for language proficiency (using a standard reading measure) and academic performance of ESL learners
• Establish guidelines for ongoing monitoring and reassessment of ESL learners that involve ESL teachers and specialists, grade level classroom teachers, and school counselors
• Establish guidelines for retention or exit of ESL learners from ESL instruction and services that take into consideration standardized test scores, academic achievement as measured by classroom assignments and tests, observation of classroom behaviour, interviews with students, length of time in school and educational background
• Require that all ESL learners participate in provincial achievement tests and other mandated testing, and that their ESL status is identified on the student answer sheet

AREA OF FOCUS #2: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ESL PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The following actions will ensure development and implementation of explicit, standardized ESL services:

• Develop programs of study for kindergarten, elementary and junior high levels, with a strong focus on explicit, direct language instruction
• Update and revise the high school ESL program of study
• Develop guidelines for modification and differentiation of the teaching of content areas to ESL learners
• Ensure that implementation of ESL programs of study is mandatory
• Establish reporting structures for implementation of ESL programs of study
• Provide resource and professional development opportunities for implementation of ESL programs of study

AREA OF FOCUS #3: ASSOCIATED PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIOCULTURAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT

The following actions will ensure associated psychological, sociocultural and academic support to ESL learners:

• Provide transitional support and coordination of services for ESL learners between school divisions
• Provide post-high school transitional support and coordination of services for ESL learners
• Promote collaboration between schools and provincial and federal departments, such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Health Canada, to provide school-based settlement and integration services to ESL learners
• Provide complementary literacy and academic support to ESL learners
• Provide social support to families of ESL learners

AREA OF FOCUS #4: FUNDING SUPPORT

The following actions will ensure adequate funding for ESL services:

• Develop a rationally based funding formula
• Remove the 5 year cap, the effect of which contradicts existing research studies of the process of second language acquisition
• Provide (a) full year ESL Supplementary funding for full day kindergarten, or (b) half-year ESL Supplementary funding for half day pre-kindergarten (4 years of age) and half-year ESL Supplementary funding for half day kindergarten (5 years of age)
• Extend the age cap to 21 years of age, which is the current cap in most provinces and territories, including Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, North West Territories, Yukon, and Saskatchewan (cap set at 22 years of age)
• Extend the Enhanced ESL and Support Services Grant to all ESL learners
• Collaborate with federal departments, such as Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Health Canada to provide school-based settlement and integration services to ESL learners
• Re-introduce the reporting procedures that require schools and school boards to report how they have used ESL funding to provide quantifiable, outcome-based ESL instruction. Reporting procedures should include a semi-annual standardized reading measures of students

AREA OF FOCUS #5: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The following actions will ensure professional standards in ESL education:

• Require all designated ESL teachers to meet the following requirements:
• Specialized ESL training; and
• Cultural competency and anti-racism education
• Clearly define the role of designated ESL teachers and ESL teacher assistants (Whereas designated ESL teachers are responsible for direct instruction, teacher assistants are to assist designated ESL teachers in classroom instruction)
• Mandate cultural competency as a professional requirement for all school personnel
• Provide mandatory, sustainable professional development courses in how to appropriately modify and differentiate instruction for ESL students in content classes
• Ensure that all future teachers have access to mandatory training in
• Cultural competency and anti-racist and multicultural education; and
• Modification and differentiation of teaching to accommodate ESL learners in content classes
• Strengthen and extend ESL specialist training at the undergraduate and graduate levels

AREA OF FOCUS #6: RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

The following actions will ensure progressive research and knowledge development in ESL education:

• Engage multi-stakeholders in the development and implementation of a collaborative research agenda and priorities for ESL education, including early intervention, rates of language acquisition for different ages on arrival, benchmarks for academic success, and classroom-based research
• Provide sustainable funding for research activities in the area of ESL education

AREA OF FOCUS #7: INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ESL REFORM

The following actions will ensure infrastructure to support ESL reform:

• Include performance measures related to ESL education in the Ministry business plan
• Establish a multi-stakeholder task group to develop, support implementation and evaluate province-wide strategic ESL directions. The task group will comprise the following representatives:
• Member of the Standing Policy Committee on Education and Employment;
• Senior leadership of departmental services in Alberta Education;
• ESL program manager in Alberta Education;
• Senior leadership of school boards;
• Representative of the Alberta School Boards Association;
• Representative of Alberta Home and School Councils' Association;
• Senior leadership in post-secondary education sector, particularly the faculties of education and related human services;
• Senior leadership of the Alberta Teachers' Association;
• Researchers;
• Representative of the Coalition for Equal Access to Education;
• Parent representatives; and
• Student representatives.
• Establish a regular schedule of reporting to the Standing Policy Committee on Education and Employment