Teaching and supporting English learners (ELs) demands a specific knowledge base and a system for accurately identifying students who need additional services, such as Special Education or Gifted and Talented.

Guiding questions

• What expertise can we leverage to develop a system for accurate identification?
• What structures do we need to implement and sustain this system?
• How can we ensure effective integration of multiple services and programs, including collaboration among specialists?

Resources to help you consider individual English learners’ needs

• English Learner Toolkit: Chapter 6 (United States Education Department)
• Promising and Effective Practices for English Learners (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
• Identifying Multilingual Learners with Specific Learning Disabilities (WIDA Focus Bulletin)
• Identifying English Learners with Disabilities (Regional Education Laboratory: Northeast and Islands)