English Language Development Program (ELD)

Our Program 

At Hiawatha Academies, our English Language Development (ELD) program empowers multilingual learners to develop the English skills needed to thrive both academically and socially.

Our dedicated ELD teachers provide targeted instruction across elementary, middle, and high school levels, ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed.

In grades 6–12, students at WIDA levels 1–3 receive sheltered, explicit instruction to strengthen core language skills, while our K–5 learners benefit from robust in-class ELD support. We also offer specialized and co-taught classes designed to help students build the academic English needed to excel across all content areas.

 

Our Vision

Hiawatha Academies is committed to providing comprehensive linguistic support so every scholar can reach their full potential.

 We are proud to:

• Collaborate and communicate closely with families.
  
  
• Provide targeted English language development services for multilingual scholars at all levels.
  
  
• Offer ongoing professional development for teachers and staff.
  
  
• Celebrate our students’ unique cultures, languages, and identities.

Language Access Plan/Support

What is ACCESS Testing?
Each year, federal and state laws require all English Language Learners (ELLs) to take the WIDA ACCESS assessment, which measures English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing on a 1–6 scale. Our trained ELD teachers administer this test annually to ensure accurate, meaningful results.

Why is Access important? 
The results help us:

• Determine the level of English support each student needs.
  
  
• Measure individual language growth over time.
  
  
• Identify when students are ready to exit ELD services.
  
  
• Refine our teaching strategies and program development.

Exit Criteria - Does my child need continued ELD support?
Students may exit the ELD program when they achieve an overall ACCESS score of 4.5 or higher, with at least three of the four domains above 3.5. We also consider each student’s academic progress and other factors to ensure the best support possible.

Communication and Family Partnership
Families are notified of their child’s ELD status every year through Parent Square and teacher conferences. All communication is provided in your preferred language to ensure clarity and collaboration.

Our Commitment
With over 70% of Hiawatha students identified as English Language Learners, our ELD program is central to our mission. We are dedicated to providing the language support, instruction, and encouragement every scholar needs to succeed.

Our work aligns directly with our mission: All Hiawatha Academies scholars will be empowered with the knowledge, character, and leadership skills to graduate from college and serve the common good. Through targeted English language development, we ensure that multilingual learners have the tools to fully engage, achieve, and lead.

To learn more about our network-wide approach, please review our Language Instruction Education Plan (LIEP).