Waynesboro Public Schools

The English as a Second Language (ESL) program serves culturally and linguistically diverse students whose native language is not English. The goal of the program is to provide students with the language and communication skills necessary to participate successfully in the mainstream classroom. We serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade for whom English is not the primary language and whose English is not adequate to perform successfully in regular academic programs.  

Waynesboro Public Schools: Enrollment and EL (English Learner) Identification Process:

1. Any student or family who registers in Waynesboro Public Schools will be given the home language survey to complete as part of the registration process.


2.  Once enrollment is complete, if the home language survey indicates a language other than English, the EL Teacher(s) will be notified.


3. The EL Teacher will review the student file. If a student is from a state within the WIDA Consortium, effort will be made to ensure that the most recent ACCESS for ELs scores are available. If no recent ACCESS/Screener scores are available or the student is from outside of the WIDA consortium, the screener assessment will be administered.


4. If student ACCESS/Screener results indicate a need for services, caregivers will be notified.


5. The teacher of ELs will ensure that ELL assessment and services data is input into PowerSchool.

The English Learner Family Toolkit and USAHello are resources available to help families with the process.

Services Offered

ESL services are designed to help students develop proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the English language as well as to assist them in adapting to a new culture. Language and culture taught in the program reinforce skills and concepts taught in all areas of the regular curriculum. Instruction is designed to meet the needs of students at various English proficiency levels, is offered in all schools, and includes all linguistic minority groups. Students are assigned to programs based on their performance on the ACCESS for ELLs (ACCESS) English language proficiency accessments. ACCESS is taken annually by English language learners in Kindergarten through Grade 12 in WIDA Consortium member states.

Students’ needs in specific academic areas are the basis for service delivery decisions.

• In-Class Support:  ESL teachers work with classroom teachers so students receive differentiated learning experiences in the regular classroom.
• Pullout Support:  Students receive individual or small group instruction that is designed to meet their academic needs.
• Monitoring: On a regular basis ESL teacher monitors student progress in the regular classroom

 Waynesboro Public Schools can provide free interpreting and translating services for you and your students school needs. Spanish Interpreters will be automatically scheduled for each school building for Back to School Orientation, Special Education Eligibility Meetings, and Parent/Teacher conferences, if requested by the parent or teacher. For a language other than Spanish, staff should contact their principal or Volatia manager.

Families who speak a language other than English can call the following phone numbers if they need to share a message about their child with school. You will be asked to press ′′ 1 ′′ for Spanish and all other languages pressing ′′ 2 ".

We look forward to working with you and your child.