The Academy for Business & Technology elementary school has a sizeable population of students with a native language other than English.  Some of these English Language Learners (ELL) come to school with either no or very limited English language proficiency.  ABTE is pleased to be able to provide an academic program that meets the needs of these students and helps them to become academically successful in all subjects, including English language arts and reading.

ABTE has several bilingual staff members (fluent in either Spanish or Arabic) who are able to assist parents with limited English proficiency at any time during the day, for Parent-Teacher Conferences, and other scheduled school events. 

As part of the new student application process, parents must complete the Home Language Survey (as required by the Michigan Department of Education).  Students who either speak a language other than English or who come from a home where a language other than English is spoken are required to take the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA)Screener.  The results of this screener, along with an assortment of evaluative data gathered by the teacher, determine if a student is Limited English Proficient (LEP) and eligible to receive any ELL services provided by the school.