ESL instruction is provided by an ESL teacher in a separate classroom as its own course

• 1 teacher: ESL-licensed
• Scheduled as a separate course built in ELs' and/or master schedules

Self-contained ESL is an instructional delivery approach in which ESL instruction is built within a school's master schedule as a component of English learners' regular schedule rather than taking the place of another class. This delivery approach is common at the middle and high school levels, where self-contained ESL is intentionally scheduled as a specific, credit-bearing course. Self-contained ESL aligned to the Massachusetts definition of ESL instruction:

• Is taught by an ESL licensed teacher in its own classroom and based on a dedicated, systematic, explicit, and sustained language-focused curriculum aligned to both the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. This curriculum is grade-level appropriate, language driven, and integrated. It draws topics and habits of mind from content standards to ensure language is taught within rich, contextualized, and meaningful circumstances that best support English learners to succeed in school and beyond.
• Is tailored to the characteristics and backgrounds of the students served, leveraging their assets (cultural background and experiences, first language, funds of knowledge, etc.) and scaffolding instruction to meet their needs.
• Integrates collaboration with appropriately endorsed content area teachers to develop ESL curriculum, plan ESL instruction based on students' strengths and needs, and share responsibility for their language development. Thus, effective self-contained ESL instruction requires ESL and content area teacher schedules that are carefully designed to include dedicated and sustained collaboration time to discuss instruction, monitor students' progress, evaluate supports needed, etc. throughout the year.
• Is scheduled carefully to ensure students identified as English learners do not miss core content instruction, since English learners need access to high-quality ESL and core content instruction to be successful and both ESL and content area instruction are legally required components of all English Learner Education programs in Massachusetts.

To learn more about the characteristics, educator roles, and instructional practices for effective self-contained ESL (including how this approach may look at the elementary school level), see this Quick Reference Guide .

Last Updated: September 20, 2022