Hours of Operation
ESL Welcome Center - 727-2483

Monday – Friday 8:00-4:00
Located behind Bryan Elementary School
off of Old Buckroe Road

ESL Screening by Appointment ONLY- 727-2483

ESL Welcome Center Staff

Debbie Sommer- ESL Curriculum Leader
Sandra Thomas- ESL Administrative Assistant
Terrie Gleason- ESL Assessment Specialist

Useful Links Title I Program English as a Second Language ESL Welcome Center Brochure

Effective programs that engage families and community embrace a philosophy of partnership. The responsibility for children’s educational development is a collaborative enterprise among parents, school staff, and community members. (A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement, 2002)

WHAT IS THE ESL WELCOME CENTER?
The ESL Welcome Center is the “one-stop” location for ESL students and their families.  The Welcome Center provides resources and information about HCS and the community.  ESL families can complete enrollment paperwork, have their children screened for the ESL Program, sign-up for adult ESL classes, learn about workshops and sessions for families, and check-out various resources to support academic success at home.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TITLE I & ESL COLLABORATION?
Hampton City Schools (LEA) receives Title I, Part A funds and according No Child Left Behind (NCLB), must implement effective means of outreach to parents of limited English proficient students to inform those parents of how the parents –

• can be involved in the education of their children; and
• be active participants in assisting their children to attain English proficiency, achieve at high levels in core academic subjects, and meet the challenging State academic achievement standards and State academic content standards expected of all students. 
• Hampton City Schools’ outreach to parents of limited English proficient students must include sending notice of opportunities for, and holding, regular meetings for the purpose of formulating and responding to recommendations from parents of Title I, Part A students.  [Section 1112(g)(4), ESEA.]”
• Hampton City schools must also:
• Provide an effective means of outreach to parents of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) children to inform them of how they can be active participants in their child’s education to help them learn English and succeed academically” [section 3302 (e)(1)].
• Communicate in a meaningful way with LEP parents, schools must “hold regular meetings for these purposes, and the information must be presented in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language that the parent can understand” [Section 1118(e)(5)].

In an effort to meet this requirements and the growing ESL population in HCS, the Title I ESL Parent Involvement Program developed the concept of the ESL Welcome Center. Title I wanted to find a way to provide specific support and resources to this population and provide a place where ESL families could complete the necessary testing, registration process and be introduced to the ESL PIF and ESL Parent Resource Center. Through this Title I and ESL collaboration, the Welcome Center will provide support, resources and information to empower ESL parents in an accommodating and welcoming environment. The Welcome Center will serve as the connection between home-school-community and be the starting place to build relationships with parents to support student’s academic and social success.

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE ESL WELCOME CENTER?
Establishing a solid foundation with ESL families entering the school system by enhancing and expanding current services and instituting a centralized location to accommodate them. Hampton City Schools and Title I wanted to find a way to provide specific support and resources to ESL families. This center provides a place for ESL families to complete the necessary testing and registration process, as well as, receive pertinent information about community and educational resources to assist them in supporting their child's education.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE ESL WELCOME CENTER?

• Offer well-implemented, goal-oriented programs and practices of family and community involvement that will increase student learning and development.
• Build on cultural values of parents and students.
• Stress personal contact with parents and students.
• Foster communication with parents.
• Create a warm environment for ESL families
• Facilitate structural accommodations for parent involvement.

A New Wave of Evidence – Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement
National Center for Family & Community Connections with Schools