For which proficiency levels is SDAIE primarily designed?

The rationale behind the design of SDAIE (Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English) is that it targets students who have reached a level of intermediate proficiency and above. SDAIE strategies are intended to help these English Learners (ELs) access the curriculum and achieve academic success while they continue to develop their English language skills.

The intermediate proficiency level indicates that students have foundational language skills in English and can benefit significantly from instructional techniques that are tailored to meet their needs in a content area like math, science, or social studies. The methodologies employed within SDAIE, such as scaffolding, cooperative learning, and visual aids, are aimed at enhancing comprehension and engagement without significantly compromising the rigor of the academic content.

While there are instructional strategies that benefit beginner ELs and those at advanced levels, SDAIE specifically targets those learners who are navigating a transitional phase in their education, enabling them to effectively manage the complexities of academic language and content simultaneously.