Low Incidence SIG

SIG Representative: Ann Feldman & Joanne Fridley
matsol.lowincidence@gmail.com

Low Incidence Support Group

The Low Incidence Support Group meets monthly at Milford High School. It is open to any interested staff/administrators and only requires an email of interest. Please see the calendar for upcoming meeting dates and contact information.

Click here for the ESL Report Cards, developed by the Low Incidence SIG.  Members only: Login required.

Facilitators: Joanne Fridley (ELL Coordinator for Westborough Public Schools) and Ann Feldman (ELL Director for Milford Public Schools) are co-facilitators for these meetings.  Boni-esther Enquist (Professional development coordinator for the Assabet Valley Collaborative) is a frequent contributor to these meetings.

Mission: Our mission is to provide ongoing support to districts who struggle with implementation of state and federal mandates vis-a-vis English learner education because of their low numbers of LEP students. The following are some of the things we have addressed during our meetings:

1. We share resources such as forms, parent manuals, etc., that have worked in our districts.
2. We explore topics such as L2 vs. LD, language assessment testing tools and regulations, how to find translation resources, how to find licensed ELL teachers, which curriculum resources are available and effective and how to go about writing ESL curriculum for our districts, how to get buy-in from administrators, CPR compliance issues, etc.
3. We share SEI professional development opportunities.
4. We are kept informed about new DOE initiatives, policy changes, etc.

History: The Low Incidence Support Group began in 2006, responding to Blackstone Valley Superintendents' Collaborative's expressed need for an ELL support group for directors/coordinators for this region's low incidence districts. A study group was formed with Ann Feldman as facilitator and this group (The Blackstone Valley ELL Study Group) met on a monthly basis in Grafton from February, 2006 through June, 2007.  In the fall of 2007, this group joined forces with MATSOL's Low Incidence Special Interest Group and continues to meet on a monthly basis. 

Resources

• Designing and Implementing Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Programs in Low Incidence Districts (March 2006) from the Massachusetts Department of Education.  Guidelines on how low incidence district can implement structured English immersion programs for their limited English proficient students
• Other K-12 resources.