Instructional Services

The ConVal Student Services Department guides the District’s Pre-K and English Language Learner (ELL) program.

Pre-K Program

ConVal provides four integrated preschool programs as well as consultations to community preschool programs. These programs currently service students between the ages of 3-5 and are located at Antrim Elementary School (2), Greenfield Elementary School (1), and at Peterborough Elementary School (1).

Contact:

Melissa Gatto
Administrative Assistant, Student Services
mgatto@conval.edu
Tel: (603) 924-3336 ext. 2032
Fax: (603) 924-6707

504 Plans

504 plans are formal plans that schools develop to give students with disabilities the supports that they need.

504 plans prevent discrimination and protect the rights of students with disabilities in school. They are covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act which is a federal civil rights law (see also the reference section Federal Laws on this website).

Please note that 504 plans are not part of special education. So, unlike IEPs, they typically do not provide individualized instruction. Instead, 504 plans achieve this goal through accommodations, like extended time on tests or the ability to leave the classroom for short breaks. For more on 504 plans, please see our 504 brochure.

Some students may also get related services through a 504 plan, such as speech-language therapy or study skills classes.

English Language Learner (ELL) Program

An English language learner (ELL) is a person who is learning the English language in addition to his or her native language.

New Hampshire is an active member of the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium. WIDA is dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners (ELLs).

To this end, the WIDA Consortium has developed English language proficiency standards and an English language proficiency test aligned with those standards (ACCESS for ELLs). Over 4,000 ELL students in New Hampshire public schools take part in the ACCESS for ELLs.

Under federal education law (Title I and Title III), all students who are identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) are required to be assessed each year with this approved assessment. LEP students are defined as students who are currently enrolled but who have not already reached threshold proficiency scores on the ACCESS test.

The ACCESS for ELLs English language proficiency test is given every year from early January through the end of February. Please note that the test must also be given to any LEP identified student who is currently eligible but who is not receiving services for any reason. There are some very limited exceptions to this participation requirement.

In order to reach proficiency on the ACCESS for ELLs, a student must attain no less than a 5.0 composite score and no less than a 4.0 on each domain score (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing).

Contact:

Cari Christian-Coates, M.Ed.
Director of Student Services
ccoates@conval.edu
(603) 924-3336 x2048
Yevgenia Kashian
District ELL Teacher
ykashian@conval.edu
(603) 525-3303