Minnesota Legal Services Coalition     Fact Sheet 4       December 2008

 

 

English Language Learners:
 Your Right to Equal Education

 

English Language Learners (ELL), also called English as a Second Language (ESL), have the right to equal opportunities at school.  This means there are rules about how a school has to help these students be successful in the classroom. 

 

How do schools have to help students that do not know English?            

A school has to

·         Identify students that need English language classes.

·         Have an ELL program that has proven to work and helps the students succeed. 

·         Hire or train staff to work with ELL students.

·         Evaluate the program and make changes if the students are not meeting goals.

·         Help students learn English and meet the same state standards that all students have to meet.

 

What is a school’s responsibility to the parents?          

The school has to

 

·         Find a way to talk to parents in their own language and find ways for them to be a part of their children’s education.

·         Let parents know within 10 days when their child is identified as an ELL student.

·         Describe the services offered to the parents and the goals a student needs to meet to complete the program.  The school also has to let parents know that they have the right to refuse these services.

·         Let parents know if the program for ELL students does not meet the yearly goals.

 

Schools CANNOT

·         Separate ELL students from other students for a large part of the school day.

·         Refuse to let ELL students into enrichment programs or college preparatory courses.

·         Separate ELL students into low or vocational tracks permanently.

Developed in collaboration with the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Education Law Project.

 

MN Legal Services Coalition

2324 University Avenue W. Suite 101B

St. Paul, MN  55114
www.mnlegalservices.org

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