Office of Educational Services & Support

Limited English Proficient Students Obligations of the School

1) Identification

• If Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is suspected, the school must identify and test the students.

2) Program

• If there is at least one LEP student, the school must use a well thought out pedagogic approach based on sound educational practice and theory for each and every student.

3) Preparation

• The school must provide sufficiently qualified human resources, bilingual material, and appropriate programs and methodologies which will ensure the learning of English and the curriculum to the same extent as native English speaking students.

4) Evaluation

• The school must evaluate the program to verify that it is providing effective instruction, similar to that of students without limitations in English.

5) Improvement

• After the evaluation, schools should amend programs to correct any deficiencies in meeting the educational needs of LEP students.

6) Communicating

• Provide reasons why your child is in need of bilingual education.
• Communicate the nature of bilingual programs.
• Inform parents of their rights.
• Let parents know the educational objectives.
• Provide progress reports.
• Provide information for LEP parents in their native language.

Federal Civil Rights Homepage: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR