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Programming

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​​English as a Second Language (ESL) programming

English as a Second Language (ESL) programming is available in elementary and secondary schools across the Halton District School Board.  Students have the opportunity to develop age appropriate first-language literacy skills.

English Literacy Development (ELD) programming

English Literacy Development (ELD) programs are for students who are usually from countries where their education access has been limited and there has been little opportunity for them to develop language and literacy skills in any language.
Students typically arrive in Ontario schools with wide gaps in their education.

Elementary Schools (Kindergarten -Grade 8)  

ESL teacher support is available in all HDSB elementary schools.  English Language Learners (ELL) students attend their home school and an ESL teacher works with the classroom teacher to adapt programs for the student.

Secondary Schools  (Grade 9-12)

The ELL program is a whole school approach where ELL students attend their home school full time and teachers collaborate to accommodate or modify their program.  

There are two school models of the ELL program in secondary schools:

  • Congregated school model

Students in the early stages of learning English are gathered together in a magnet school which serves students from the surrounding geographical area.  The school contains an ESL and ELD department with qualified ESL/ELD teachers and offers a range of ESL and ELD credit courses.  Other credit courses (such as Geography, History, Science, Civics, Careers Studies) are available and adapted to the needs of ESL learners.

The following schools have a Congregated school model:  Burlington Central High School, Craig Kielburger Secondary School, T.A. Blakelock High School, White Oaks Secondary School

  • Resource Sup​​port school model

​When there are not enough students within a geographical area to sustain a Congregated school model, two credit support courses are offered based on student needs.  A qualified ESL/ELD teacher provides regularly scheduled individual assistance  on a resource basis.

The following schools have a Resource Support model: Gary Allan High School, Iroquois Ridge High School, Milton District High School, Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School, Garth Webb Secondary School, Abbey Park High School

Types of support: 

  • Intensive support - For ELL students with beginner English skills or with limited education

  • Partial support - For ELL students who have basic English skills and a foundation level of literacy

  • Tutorial support - Students who are enrolled in a full program of mainstream courses may receive tutorial support from a ESL or ELD resource teacher, subject teacher, or peer tutors.

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Halton District School Board
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5A8

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