Roosevelt Union Free School District

ELL Identification Process and Eligibility

When a new student registers for school at Roosevelt Union Free School District (UFSD) and the parent/guardian indicates that there is a language other than English spoken in the home on the Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ), the registrar refers the student to an ELL teacher for oral and written screening.

The ELL teacher contacts the family and schedules a meeting for the student to be assessed for ENL services. The New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) is the assessment used by all districts in New York State to determine a student’s level of English proficiency and determine eligibility for ENL services.  There are five levels of English proficiency: Entering (Beginning), Emerging (Low Intermediate), Transitioning (High Intermediate), Expanding (Advanced) Commanding (Proficient).  

Students testing at Entering, Emerging, Transitioning and Expanding Levels will receive ENL supports and services, including local and New York State testing accommodations.

All ELLs in New York State are assessed annually to determine continued eligibility for ENL.  Each year, generally in May, ELLs take the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT).  The NYSESLAT score determines the student’s level of English proficiency and level of service for the following school year.  When a student achieves the level of “Commanding,” he/she will receive ESL monitoring and supports (including testing accommodations) for two more years before exiting the ESL program.