Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Designated and Integrated English Language Development

English learners face the unique challenge of learning English as they are also learning grade-level content through English. The California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education recognize that both Designated and Integrated English language development (ELD) are integral parts of a comprehensive program for every English learner to meet the linguistic and academic goals at their grade level. The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance for instruction and additional resources.

As a comprehensive approach to ELD, the English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework for California Public Schools states:

English learners at all English proficiency levels and at all ages require both Integrated ELD and specialized attention to their particular language learning needs, or Designated ELD. (p. 119)

Designated ELD is defined as instruction provided during a time during the regular school day for focused instruction on the state-adopted ELD standards to assist English learners to develop critical English language skills necessary for academic content learning in English. (California Code of Regulations, Title 5 [5 CCR] Section 11300[a]).

Integrated ELD is defined as instruction in which the state-adopted ELD standards are used in tandem with the state-adopted academic content standards. Integrated ELD includes specifically designed academic instruction in English. (5 CCR Section 11300[c]).

The following is stated in 5 CCR Section 11309(c)(1) regarding programs for English learners:

“Any language acquisition program provided by a local educational agency (LEA) shall:

(1) Be designed using evidence-based research and include both designated and integrated ELD.”

Designated and Integrated ELD instruction are also components of Tier I instruction for all English learners under the Multi-Tiered System of Supports and incorporate the principles of Universal Design for Learning.

Many resources are available to support Designated and Integrated ELD instruction, including the following:

• Resources for teaching ELD standards, professional learning content, and other resources, including the Integrated and Designated ELD Video Series, are available on the CDE English Language Development Standards web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/eldstandards.asp.
• The ELA/ELD Framework is available on the CDE All Curriculum Frameworks web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/allfwks.asp.
• Information regarding ELA/ELD instructional materials is located on the CDE 2015 ELA/ELD Adoption web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/im/sbeadoptedelaeldprogs.asp.
• The 2020 CDE publication, Improving Education for Multilingual and English Learner Students: Research to Practice, is available as a free download from the CDE Improving Education: Research to Practice web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/improvingmleleducation.asp.
• Information on the Multi-Tiered System of Support and Universal Design for Learning is available on the CDE Multi-Tiered System of Supports web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/ri/.

If you have any questions regarding programs and services for English learners, please contact Elena Fajardo, Administrator, Language Policy and Leadership Office, by phone at 916-319-0845 or by email at efajardo@cde.ca.gov [NOTE: the preceding contact information is no longer valid] the Language Policy and Leadership Office at 916-319-0845.

If you have any questions regarding curriculum frameworks, content standards, and instructional materials, please contact the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division at 916-319-0881.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction