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TO LEP Coordinators

FROM DPI ESL/Title III Consultants

DATE September 30, 2009

IDENTIFYING AND SERVING PRE-K LEP STUDENTS

Definition: PreK students are defined as four (4) year olds entering kindergarten the next school year, and are enrolled in your school system or in a program which is paid for with state or federal funds. Three (3) year olds or younger may not be counted.

Head Count: You may count PreK students in your LEP headcount IF you identify them as LEP students and serve them.

Identification: The home language survey process is the method which allows you to separate potential LEP students from native English speakers. You cannot, however, administer the W-APT to PreK students. You must select or create an assessment suitable to identify PreK students as LEP. There are several off-the-shelf assessments which can be purchased by the LEA, e.g. Pre-LAS, Pre-IPT OR you can create your own assessment by using age appropriate questions which would identify if the student is an English language learner.

Service: Minimally service would include:  assessing PreK students for LEP identification purposes.  training PreK teachers in ESL strategies and techniques, and the basics of second language acquisition theory.

Documentation: Maintain a list of PreK students assessed and identified as LEP for audit purposes and to be entered in the LEP FDC second semester. Include NC Wise (if available), Last Name, First Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Race/Ethnicity and Born outside US (yes or no). Attached you will find an Excel spreadsheet template for data entry and a table from the Federal Government explaining the NEW 2009-2010 choices for race and the definition of each.

If you have any questions please contact:

Glenda Harrell 919-807-3866 [email protected] Joanne Marino 919-807-3861 [email protected] Ivanna Mann Thrower 919-807-3860 [email protected]

K-12 PROGRAM AREAS 6349 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6349 | (919) 807-3869 | Fax (919) 807-3823 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER