GUIDANCE FOR PARENT RIGHT TO REFUSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has maintained a policy that the parents of English Learners (ELs) may only refuse English language development services for their children for religious reasons. Recently, a number of cases have compelled the PDE to rescind that policy in order to comply with existing federal law. The following guidance describes that change was necessitated because of these circumstances. Although PDE would customarily introduce this type of change at the most convenient time for districts to prepare and implement local procedural changes (i.e., the end of the school year), for legal reasons it was not possible to delay the change in this case.

The Department recognizes that direct instruction in language acquisition skills is of value, and it is our responsibility as educators to educate all children in Pennsylvania. We are confident that will continue in response to these federal changes. PDE will support districts in any way possible to accommodate this policy shift and ensure a smooth implementation within districts.

PARENTAL RIGHT TO REFUSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Refusal of English Language Development (ELD) programs and/or services indicates an informed, voluntary decision by the parent to not have the child placed in any separate, specialized ELD service or instructional program. A "waiver" indicates a desire by the parent to waive the child from participation in all or some of the ELD programs or services offered by the school.

LEA OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PARENT REFUSAL OF ELD PROGRAM SCENARIO

Specialized services or instruction are those only provided for English Learners (Els), for example ELD pull-out classes, English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring, after school English tutoring for ELs or content classes consisting only of ELs. This does not include a class composed of ELs and non-ELs in which ELD is supported through content instruction.

LEAs must not recommend that a parent opt a child out of EL programs or services for any reason.

LEAs must:

• Inform parents within 30 days of the beginning of the school year or 14 calendar days within the school year of their child's EL identified status in the parents' preferred language within 30 days of the beginning of the school year or 14 calendar days within the school year of their child's EL identified status in the parents' preferred language.
• Describe in sufficient detail to the parents the ELD program recommended for their child and the advantages to their child in terms of English language acquisition and academic success.
• Inform parents of their right to decline ELD programs or services in whole or in part, and supply the parents with the state required ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Parental Waiver Form.
• Ensure that parents do not opt their children out of any ELD programs or services based on schedule conflicts with other programs (such as special education programs); insufficient space in the available ELD programs; or insufficient offerings within the ELD program.
• Annually test opt-out ELs with the state required WIDA ACCESS for ELs 2.0 test until the student attains English proficiency by meeting the state exit criteria and is reclassified non-EL status.
• Maintain the student's EL status on all reporting even though the student's parents declined services.
• Provide ELD instruction within the general education content area instruction to meet the needs of the opt-out EL students.
• Notify parents if their child is struggling in general education classes and recommend the ELD program and services again.
• Present the ELD Program Inclusion Form to parents who wish to opt their child back into the school's ELD programs and services.
• LEAs must have policies and procedures in place for all of the above actions. If you have questions, please contact:

Matthew Harris, Ed.D. at matthew_harris@fcasd.edu or Sharon Breisinger at Sharon_Breisinger@fcasd.edu