Focus
New York State requires newly enrolled students and students re-enrolling after two years to complete a Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) at the time of enrollment. If the HLQ and an informal interview indicate that a language other than English is used in the home, the student is administered the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL).
The NYSITELL results determine the student’s English language proficiency level: Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, Expanding, or Commanding. Students who are identified as English Language Learners (ELLs) based on their results are placed in an appropriate Bilingual Education (BE) or English as a New Language (ENL) program based on their English language proficiency and educational needs.
Students who score at the Commanding level are not identified as ELLs and are not placed in an ELL program.
The identification and placement process must be completed prior to the beginning of the school year or within the first ten days of a student’s enrollment.
Multilingual families who are in need of support during the school year are always invited to visit one of the Cultural Resource Specialists between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. weekdays at the Central Registration Welcome Center or call them. Families' calls will be returned within 24 hours.