Module 2: Identification

All students who are classified as ELLs are required to participate in a program of
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). To comply with the requirements of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) et al. v. State Board of Education Consent Decree, and corresponding Florida State Board of Education rules on ELL services, all schools with students classified as ELLs must provide an appropriate ESOL program to meet the specific needs of such students in language learning, academic achievement, and cultural integration. To access the Florida Consent Decree log on to http://www.fldoe.org/aala/cdpage2.asp. Students in the ESOL program are required to meet the same curriculum standards as any other student in English/language arts and content area instruction.

ESOL Program Entry Criteria

The State generated Home Language Survey is the first step in identifying a potential ELL. This survey must be completed for all students in grades Pre-K through 12 entering a Broward County Public School for the first time. This is required by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) et al. v. State Board of Education Consent Decree. The Home Language Survey includes three questions and is given at the time of registration:

1. Is a language other than English used in the home?
2. Did the student have a first language other than English?
3. Does the student most frequently speak a language other than English?

These questions are found on the Student Registration form which is completed by a parent or guardian. The registration form is translated into Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish. These translated forms are available on the department website at esol.browardschools.com, and school locations are encouraged to provide copies in English and the home language, when applicable.

If a parent answers "no" to all three questions on the Home Language Survey, the student is not considered a potential ELL. This student will NOT be assessed for English language proficiency. 

If a parent answers “yes” to ANY of the three questions on the Home Language Survey, then the student is assessed for aural/oral language proficiency in English within 20 days of registration. If the student is not assessed within these 20 days, this period is extended to an additional 20 days, as long as parents are notified in writing in their native language (20-day Parent Notification Letter). Review the entry criteria flow charts (Grades K-2 and Grades 3-12) found in the ESOL Handbook/Section2.

Registration Procedures

In order to be in compliance with the LULAC et al. v. State Board of Education Consent Decree, these procedures must be followed:

• If the student is eligible to receive ESOL services, the school must inform the new students/parents.
• A social security card/number is NOT required to register a student for school or to qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch.

• Do not ask students or parents for their immigration status; do not document any information regarding immigration status; and do not ask to see their passports. If they volunteer the passport, it may be used as proof of age; however, a photocopy of any portion of the passport cannot be made or kept as documentation. A notation can be made on the registration form that the student's age was verified through the passport.