Why Schools Use the Home Language Survey Form

Many parents wonder how their child is identified as an English language learner (ELL). As an English language coordinator, I am often asked to explain why their child was tested for English as a Second Language (ESL) services and how he/she was identified as an ELL student. Identification of an English language learner begins with the completion of a Home Language Survey (HLS) Form during new student registration. All schools are required to include a Home Language Survey Form that all families, including native English speaking families, must complete. Once a parent answers the questions on the Home Language Survey Form, schools are required to share the information with the English language department to initiate a possible identification. Once the English language department reviews the HLS, certain protocols are followed to determine if testing is necessary. A school has 25 from registration to complete the identification.

What's in a home language survey?

Most home language surveys contain similar questions inquiring about the languages spoken at home. Some of the questions shown in a home language survey may be:

1) What is the primary language used in the home, regardless of the language spoken by the student?

2) What is the language most often spoken by the student?

3) What is the language that the student first acquired?

When one or more of the above questions notes another language is spoken in the home, the Home Language Survey Form is referred to the ESL department to review for identification. If the English as a Second Language department determines that assessment is needed, a designated English language assessment is used to assess for English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The English language assessment determines whether or not a student is eligible to receive English language support or services. In most states, a score of 4.9 or below qualifies a student as an English language learner. A score of 5 or above will determine that a student does not need English language services.

Please note that parent permission is not required to assess a possible Englis Language Learner student. A school must administer and offer necessary language development services to all eligible students. A parent has the right to decline English language development services at any time but may not impede the administration of an entrance exam or the annual language assessment. The language assessment is mandated by the federal government to ensure that students in need of English language instruction receive the language instruction they require.

Once a student is identified as an English Language Learner the school will begin providing language development services. The quality and quantity of English language development services depend on the language instruction model offered in the school.