N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:15-1.2
The following words and terms shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Alternate English language proficiency assessment" (alternate ELP assessment) means a Department-approved assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities that assesses a student's English language proficiency (ELP) on the four domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and that is aligned with the ELD standards and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
"Bilingual education program" means a full-time LIEP in all courses or subjects provided in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:35-18. Students in a bilingual education program receive instruction in the primary language of MLs enrolled in the program and in English, while also receiving ESL instruction. Educators use the primary language of instruction to enhance literacy in the primary language and as a support in the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. Students also receive instruction in the history and culture of the country, territory, or geographic area that is the native land of the parents and families of MLs enrolled in the program, and in the history and culture of the United States.
"Bilingual part-time program" means an instructional program alternative in which students receive their academic content area classes in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics instruction with a certified bilingual teacher who provides instruction in the primary language of the MLs in the program, as well as ESL instruction.
"Bilingual resource program" means an instructional program alternative in which students receive instruction and resources that are individualized for each student, daily instruction from a certified bilingual teacher in academic content areas as identified by the school district, as well as ESL instruction.
"Bilingual tutorial program" means an instructional program alternative in which students receive one period of instruction from a certified bilingual teacher in an academic content area required for graduation, a second period of tutoring in another required content area, as well as ESL instruction.
"Class period" means the time allocated for instruction in academic content areas as part of the regular school schedule for each day in session as set forth at N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3. In a block schedule, weekly instruction is equivalent to one class period for each day of school in a given week.
"Comprehensive equity plan" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.3.
"Cut score" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:8-1.3.
"District board of education" means the provider of publicly funded preschool, elementary, and secondary education programs, including a district board of education, charter school board of trustees, State agency, or other public education agency that acts as the school district of residence for the location, identification, evaluation, determination of eligibility, and provision of a free and appropriate public education to MLs, except as defined otherwise.
"Dual language immersion program" means, for the purpose of meeting the LIEP requirements at N.J.S.A. 18A:35-18 and this chapter, a full-time LIEP that provides students structured English language instruction and instruction in a second language in all academic content areas. MLs in the program receive instruction in their primary language, as well as ESL instruction. A dual language immersion program provides daily instruction in English and a minimum of 50 percent of instruction in the primary language of enrolled MLs. A dual language immersion program that is designed to support MLs is sometimes referred to as a two-way bilingual education program.
"Early Language Development Standards" means the preschool English language development standards for preschool students developed by WIDA. The standards correspond to five domains of children's development and learning: approaches to learning, language and communication development, cognition and general knowledge, physical well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development. The standards incorporated herein by reference, are published by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, on behalf of the WIDA Consortium and are available at http://wida.wisc.edu/teach/early.
"Educational activities and programs" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.3.
"Educational equity" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.3.
"Educational needs" means the particular educational requirements of MLs; the fulfillment of which will provide them with equal educational opportunities.
"English as a second language (ESL) program" means a daily class period of second-language acquisition instruction within an LIEP and based on a student's English language proficiency that teaches the English language development standards and incorporates the cultural aspects of the students' experiences in their ESL instruction.
"English language development standards" or "ELD standards" means the 2020 Amplification of the English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten-Grade 12, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, developed by WIDA. They are the standards and language competencies in listening, speaking, reading, and writing that MLs in preschool programs, and elementary and secondary schools, need to become fully proficient in English and to have unrestricted access to grade-appropriate instruction in challenging academic content areas. The standards are a version of English language arts that have been crafted to address the specific developmental stages of students learning English. The standards are published by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, on behalf of the WIDA Consortium (www.wida.us) and are available for review at http://wida.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/resource/WIDA-ELD-Standards-Framework-2020.pdf.
"English language proficiency assessment" or "ELP assessment" means a Department-approved assessment that evaluates a student's English language proficiency on the four domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and that is aligned with the ELD standards.
"English language services" means services designed to improve the English language skills of MLs. The services, provided in school districts with less than 10 MLs in kindergarten through 12th grade, are part of the regular school program and are designed to develop proficiency in the ELD standards.
"Equal educational opportunity" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.3.
"Exit criteria" means the criteria that must be applied before a student may be exited from an LIEP.
"High-intensity ESL program" means an instructional program alternative in which students receive two or more class periods each day in session of ESL instruction. One period is the standard ESL class, and the other period is a tutorial or ESL reading class.
"Instructional program alternative" means an LIEP, other than bilingual education and/or dual language immersion, that may be established by a district board of education in consultation with, and approval of, the Department through a waiver request pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-18. All students in an instructional program alternative receive an ESL class period each day in session.
"Language instruction educational program" or "LIEP" means the program of services in which an ML receives instruction and support to develop and attain English language proficiency while meeting or exceeding the NJSLS in academic content areas. MLs in an LIEP develop proficiency in the English language while they develop skills and knowledge within the academic content areas. An LIEP includes the services that all MLs are entitled to receive, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-16 and this chapter. LIEP includes "programs of bilingual education," pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-16, and "instructional alternative programs," pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-18.
"Multicultural curriculum" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:7.
"Multilingual learner" or "ML" means a student whose primary language is not English, who is identified through the process set forth in this chapter, and who is developing proficiency in multiple languages (for example, English and a primary language). The term is synonymous with "English learner" or "English language learner."
"Newcomer" means any student born outside of the United States who has recently arrived in the United States. Newcomer is an umbrella term that includes a heterogenous group of immigrants; some newcomers may also be MLs or students with interrupted formal education (SIFEs).
"NJSLS" means the New Jersey Student Learning Standards as defined at N.J.A.C. 6A:8-1.3.
"Parent" means the same as that term is defined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:32-2.1.
"Primary language" means the language or mode of communication in which an ML is most fluent or speaks more regularly than any other language. In the case of a student, the primary language is the language normally used by the student's parent.
"Sheltered English instruction" means an instructional program alternative to make academic instruction in English understandable to MLs. Sheltered English classes are taught by classroom teachers who deliver instruction in English, may not hold a bilingual/ESL endorsement, but have received training on strategies for instructional adaptation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:8-1.3, to make academic content areas comprehensible for MLs.
"State Seal of Biliteracy" means a recognition awarded pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.3.
"Statewide home-language survey" or "Statewide HLS" means a standardized questionnaire developed by the Department for school districts to use to help identify which students are potential MLs and which students will require a record review and an ELP assessment to determine whether they are eligible for placement in an LIEP.
"Student with interrupted formal education" or "SIFE" means an ML in grades four through 12 who has experienced disruptions in their formal education that took place outside of the United States.
N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:15-1.2