English Learner Identification Process

 

ENGLISH LEARNER (EL) IDENTIFICATION PROCESS:

Per state and federal requirements, the Franklin Public School District has policies and procedures in place for the identification of potential English learners (ELs). The parents/guardians of all entering students are required to complete a home language survey which is used to identify potential ELs. Families may request an interpreter to assist in completing the survey when their home language is not English.

The Franklin Public School District uses the home language survey available on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website to identify potential ELs. The link above also offers families translations of the home language survey and other parent-school communications in 27 languages other than English.

Once a student is identified as a potential EL from the home language survey (a language other than English is identified as spoken in the home), the district is required to use the following state-approved assessments to screen/measure a student’s level of English proficiency. All districts are required to use the cut scores provided by DESE.

  •  WIDA Screener Placement Test  Grade K-12 students (listening, speaking, reading, writing)
  • WIDA MODEL for kindergarten students (listening, speaking)
  • Pre IDEA Proficiency Test (Pre IPT for preschool students ages 3, 4) in listening & speaking domains
  • Teacher Assessment

The district ELD teachers are trained and assess all K-12 students whose home language survey indicates a language other than English for any of the survey questions, in reading, writing, speaking and listening using the English proficiency criteria set by the DESE.

Parents/guardians of all newly identified ELs receive an initial parent notification letter with information about the student’s English proficiency level and their child/children’s English Learner program placement. Parents/guardians will continue to receive an annual parent notification letter until the student has met state benchmarks for English proficiency.

Additional information for parents about meeting state benchmarks for English proficiency are included with the annual parent notification letter.

Annual Parent Notification Letter

ACCESS Benchmark Executive Summary

English Learner Success Plan Template

In special circumstances, parents may request no ELD support or that students receive support within sub-separate language-based programs within the district.  Both circumstances, Opt Out and Waiver requests, require special documentation/paperwork and home/school communication.

To review the Franklin Public School Opt Out procedures please click here. 

To learn more about qualified staff, appropriate procedures and state required tests, please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/guidance/Guidance.pdf

Authority: ESEA; Title VI; EEOA; G.L. c. 71A, § 4; 603 CMR 14.02; G.L c. 76, § 5; 603 CMR 26.03.