Public School English as a Second Language (PSESL)

Maryville College operates an English as a Second Language program for local public schools in Blount County. This program provides English instruction and support to approximately 200 children who attend area public schools, but whose native language is not English.

The PSESL program is for children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade who are enrolled in Blount County Schools or Maryville City Schools. Students are screened through the Home Language Survey filled out by parents when they register at a participating school. Students with non-English language backgrounds are then qualified for the program through the administration of a test which measures English language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

The PSESL program is currently housed at Eagleton Middle School. Students are transported by the districts for two hours of language instruction five days a week. The faculty is made up of 14 teachers all fully licensed in the State of Tennessee. The staff works as a team to provide the best possible instruction in academic English using academic content and sheltered instruction. Students are re-evaluated for placement at the end of each semester and in March with the English Language Development Assessment (ELDA) as required by the State of Tennessee.

Contact Information:

Jean LaForest, Coordinator PSESL
jean.laforest@maryvillecollege.edu
865-981-8130
865-980-1144
Blount County Schools: 54-2105