Wicomico Co. Schools, new resources for EL students

SALISBURY, Md. – Educators in Wicomico County are stepping up efforts to help meet the needs of their students learning English as a second language.

Wicomico County Public Schools recently hired six new ESOL teachers, along with five assistants that will work with them.

The school district also added two language acquisition coaches who will give classroom teachers a chance to learn new skills and strategies that will help meet the needs of English Learners.

On top of that, there are plans to provide a new online program for this growing student population.

“We certainly anticipate probably having 1,200 students in our EL program by the end of the school year, so our county is trying to do some different things to meet this growing population,” said Ellen Harlan, the school district’s new language acquisition supervisor.

According to Harlan, state funding helped make these new additions at the Wicomico County Public Schools a reality.