Identification of English Language Learners and the Parent Home Language Survey

In Maryland, local education agencies are required to ask every student upon enrollment if a language other than English is spoken and list the language(s). A Home Language Survey (HLS) is completed by parents to determine a primary or home language other than English. COMAR provides the criteria of the home language survey (HLS) and defines it for ELL identification COMAR 13A.05.07.02 and COMAR 13a.05.07.03.

If a student is determined to be eligible for services based on home language survey responses, the Language Assessment System (LAS) Links placement test, a state-mandated diagnostic test is administered with specifically established cut scores.

Each Local Education Agency must inform parents of a limited English proficient child identified for participation in the district's ESOL program.

• No later than 30 days after the beginning of the school year for students who enter at the start of the school year.
  
  
• Within the first 2 weeks for those children of attendance for children who have not been identified as limited English proficient prior to the beginning of the school year.
  

Parent Notification letters are available in the following languages: