The ISSO is the first point of contact for immigrating students entering Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Our purpose is to address four main needs of students and their families: public school registration; screening for English Language Acquisition (ELA) and educational services; providing essential information about community resources available for social services; and finally, facilitating communication between ELA families and their assigned schools.

Who registers at the ISSO? Students whose home language is NOT English, foreign exchange students, ELA or ESL students coming from outside Anne Arundel County, and incoming Kindergartners whose home language is NOT English and are enrolling after June 1st all register at the ISSO.

The registration process includes a verification of documents, including birth records, proof of residency in Anne Arundel County, immunization records, and an evaluation of prior school transcripts.

At the time of registration, students are screened for English Language proficiency in order to place them in the appropriate program, or ELA Academy, targeted to provide supplemental English language support and education. 

In addition to facilitating the registration process, the ISSO also maintains an extensive repository of information regarding community resources for immigrant families and aids in directing families to appropriate organizations.