Photo by Deb Gau Marshall School Board member Bill Swope joined in the discussion at the board’s Monday night meeting.

MARSHALL — The size of the Marshall Public School District’s English Learner program has grown over time — but it’s also grown in strength, and is yielding positive results for students, said presenters at Monday’s meeting of the Marshall School Board.

One of the main focuses of the meeting was a presentation on MPS’ English Learner program, by Jim Gagner, assistant principal at Park Side Elementary, and EL teacher Vickie Radloff.

EL has been known by a lot of other names and acronyms, Gagner said. The most recognizable is probably English as a Second Language. There are 4.85 million students learning English at schools across the country, Gagner said. The majority of EL students were born in the U.S., he said. Of EL students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, 85 percent were born in the U.S.

Gagner shared a breakdown Marshall EL students, by grade. There are a total of 378 EL students attending Marshall public schools, with the highest numbers in kindergarten, first and second grade. There are 56 EL students in the first grade at Park Side.

Gagner said there are also EL students attending Marshall High School. A total of 18 EL students are currently in the 12th grade, although Gagner clarified that they may not necessarily be graduating this spring.

Gagner said students are identified for the EL program through a process that includes a survey of what language is spoken most often at a child’s home, an oral interview with the student, and an assessment of the student’s English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Once a student is placed in EL, they receive different levels of instruction depending on their English skills.

For example, Gagner said, a middle-school student who is new to the U.S. would receive two hours of EL instruction a day. A student with more advanced English skills could get 30 minutes to an hour of EL instruction a day. Students’ progress is measured with assessment tests each year.

Radloff and Gagner said students can exit the EL program a few different ways. For example, they can show an appropriate reading level on a standardized test, or exit the program by the recommendation of an EL teacher, or a parent.

Radloff said the EL program has grown over time. The district used to have about five EL teachers, and now there are 14.

“Of course, our population reflects that,” Radloff said. The EL program in Marshall has also shown some very positive results. One example of positive growth is the district’s summer program for eighth- graders transitioning to high school. The summer program allows students to get a jump-start on earning class credits, Radloff said.

The certified nursing assistant and welding programs at MA-TEC had a start in the EL program, Radloff said.

“It’s been a great program,” Radloff said. She said high school-level students are also expressing an interest in other career education options, like auto body mechanics or cosmetology.

Gagner and Radloff said the Marshall EL program works with Southwest Minnesota State University, Upward Bound and other educational programs in the community, as well.

“We do work closely with Adult Basic Education,” Gagner said.

Radloff shared some of the progress made by her former EL students with the board. Several students have gone on to attend post-secondary education. One reported getting good grades, with a 3.02 GPA. Other former students are now pursuing careers — Radloff said she heard from one student who is training an airline pilot, and another past student is now a real estate agent.