English Learner Identification Process

  1. A Home Language Survey (HLS) is administered to all newly enrolling students.
  2. If a language other than English is indicated on the HLS the district may do one of the following:
    1. Contact the student’s former school for information on language proficiency assessment results and/or the student’s status as an EL or Former English Learner (FEL).
    2. If the student has never been assessed or is new to Massachusetts schools, the district will assess the student’s English proficiency using the Pre-LAS for PreK students, the W-APT for students in Kindergarten, or the WIDA Screener for students in grades 1-12.
  3. Based on the results of the screening, the district will determine if the student will be placed in the EL Program and how many minutes of ESL instruction are recommended.
  4. The parent or legal guardian will be notified, in a language they can understand, of the screening results and that the child will be placed in the SEI program. Parents/Legal guardians will also be notified of their right to “opt-out” of the language program.