Disclaimer

This website was created during non-work hours using donated software, hardware and web hosting. It is intended for discussion, modification and eventual adoption by the Roseville Joint Union High School District (California). Until such process is completed, the opinions expressed on this website are the opinions of the author alone.

The Home Language Survey

 

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The Home Language Survey is a form required by the State of California whenever a student enrolls in a a school district for the tie first time. This often occurs in Kindergarten, but can occur any time the child changes school districts in California. In our district, any student who enrolls must have a Home Language Survey, as our district is a high school district, hence any student entering one of our schools is entering the district for the first time.

There are four questions on the home language survey:

  1. Which language did your child learn when he/she first began to talk?

  2. Which language does your child most frequently speak at home?

  3. Which language do you (the parents or guardians) most frequently use when speaking with your child?

  4. Which language is most often spoken by adults in the home? (parents, guardians, grandparents, or any other adults)

If any language besides English appears in the any of the first three questions, the school district is required by the state to determine the student's English language fluency status. This is normally done with the California English Language Development Test (CELDT).

 

a)

The students is potentially considered an English Learner by virtue of the family's responses to the four questions on the Home Language Survey. (Potential English Learners)

b)

The student has previously been identified as an English Learner by the state of California. (Identified English Learners.)

Most students entering the Roseville Joint Union High School District have already been tested and classified for language fluency. The classifications are:

    Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP): Initial Fluent English Proficient (HLS indicated that a language other than English is used in the home, however initial testing indicates the child is Fluent English Proficient, so he/she is never classified as an English learner.

    Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students who are classified as English learners

    Redesignated Fluent English Proficient (RFEP): Students who were once classified English learners but have been redesignated as Fluent English Proficient through a variety of performance measures and evaluations.

The test is determine the level of the student's English language development. Once the school knows a students' CELDT level, we can also determine the best program for the student.  The parents are also notified of the child's initial placement using this form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Response

My daughter has been in Roseville schools all her life. Why do we have to fill out so much paperwork?

The city school district is separate from the high school district, which covers more area. State law requires certain paperwork upon enrolling in any new district.

My daughter learned Danish from her mother when she was a baby. Her mom died tragically when she was about two years old, and I have raised her entirely in the United States. Why does she have to be tested?

State law says that any student who has an answer of something else besides English in the first three questions must be tested.

We will check to see if she was tested in elementary school. (See also next question.)

My daughter was tested when she was in kindergarten. Doesn't it seem ridiculous to test her again as a ninth grader?

Yes, it does seem ridiculous. We will check her cumulative record folder to see if we can find the documentation of the test. If we can, then we probably don't have to test her. If the documentation isn't there, then we are required to test her. (See also previous question.)

The law was designed to make sure that school districts didn't ignore English language development issues. It was written to be very broad to provide a "safety net" so children didn't fall between the cracks. The broad design of the law sometimes catches students, who in all reasonable opinion, are not English Learners. However, the law states that all children who match certain criteria must be tested.

It is important that all students do their best on any test. It gives the schools and the state department of education an accurate picture on how well each student and all students are doing.

Resources

View a presentation on the Home Language Survey. (Used by permission of hawktrain.com, copyright 2008, Andrew Sarkas)

Appendix 10: RJUHSD Redesignation Policy

Last modified June 1, 2008. Posted by Ted Herr. Send comments or questions to therr@rjuhsd.us

© 2009 Ted Herr
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