DELME → Secondary Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) Program

Secondary Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) Program

Summary

The Secondary SLIFE program of the Montgomery County Public Schools is designed to meet the linguistic and academic needs of emergent multilingual learners who have had significantly limited or interrupted formal education before enrolling in school in the United States. Students enrolled in the Secondary SLIFE program receive instruction in developing English language proficiency and basic literacy and academic skills. Students also receive instruction and support to facilitate adjustment to both the academic and social school environment. The purpose of the Secondary SLIFE program is to develop English language proficiency and literacy while providing the instruction and support with academics that will help narrow students' educational gaps and facilitate articulation to non-Secondary SLIFE classes.

Identification and Placement of Secondary SLIFE-Eligible Students

Students may be referred to the Secondary SLIFE program by International Admissions and Enrollment, school staff, or a parent or family member.

Students are eligible to attend the Secondary SLIFE program when they meet all of the following criteria:

They score at level 1 or 2 on the WIDA Screener Placement Test
They have had a minimum of two years of a schooling gap
Their age is appropriate for at least Grade 6 placement
They function at two or more years below grade level in Math and/or Reading (in the student’s home language)
Once students are identified as eligible for Secondary SLIFE services, they are assigned to a Secondary SLIFE site.

Secondary SLIFE Sites

Currently there are Secondary SLIFE sites at the following schools:

Middle Schools	High Schools
Eastern MS Gaithersburg MS A. Mario Loiederman MS Montgomery Village MS Neelsville MS Takoma Park MS Julius West MS White Oak MS Sligo MS Wood MS	Bethesda Chevy Chase HS Montgomery Blair HS Albert Einstein HS Gaithersburg HS Richard Montgomery HS Northwood HS Quince Orchard HS Rockville HS Seneca Valley HS Springbrook HS Watkins Mill HS Wheaton HS

Secondary SLIFE Instruction

Middle and High School Secondary SLIFE Program

Eligible students in Grades 6-8 receive literacy and English language development instruction as well as instruction in the Language of Math and Social Studies. Secondary SLIFE receive English language development services for a large part of the day, but take classes with non-Secondary SLIFE in electives such as Physical Education and Art.

Instruction is provided by certified English language development teachers. Because of the multi-grade nature of the Secondary SLIFE program, the emotional and social needs of the students, and the various levels of literacy and numeracy of the students, classes are kept at a ratio of 15 to 1 with the support of a Secondary SLIFE para-educator. Native language support is provided when possible.

For further information, please call Jisun DeLeon at 240-740-3982

Other Secondary SLIFE Support Services

Secondary SLIFE students and their families receive support from many professionals in the Department of English Learners and Multilingual Education (DELME). Emergent Multilingual Therapeutic Counselors (ETC) and Parent Community Coordinators (PCC) are regularly assigned to all Secondary SLIFE sites to facilitate the acculturation of students and parents to the academic and social environment of the school and community.