Imagine moving to the United States and then enrolling in a school without knowing how to speak English.

Along with the experiences of culture shock, you aren’t able to express yourself to most people around you.

This situation is repeated dozens of times each school year in the Davenport Community Schools, where five schools provide emersion English Language Learning (ELL) Programs.

At the elementary level, the ELL Program is provided at Buchanan, Jefferson Edison, and McKinley. Williams Intermediate and West High also are program service centers where the goal is to help students become proficient in English so they also may attain high academic achievements in our schools.

Once students become proficient in English at one of the program service centers, they return to their neighborhood elementary, intermediate, or high school.

Recently, the district also began providing limited ELL services at all of the other elementary schools through a resource teacher. Participation in these limited ELL opportunities is decided by the principal, parents and district ELL director.

For more information on the Davenport Community Schools English Language Learning Program, please contact Robert Mata, ELL Program Director, at 336-3805, 1606 Brady St., Davenport, IA 52803, or matar@davenportschools.org