This EL Program Guidance Manual (manual) is grounded in federal law and corresponding federal guidance documents. To ensure that HIDOE achieves Federal compliance and provides adequate language services to ELs, this manual is modeled around eight (8) required steps as described by the Office of Civil Rights and United States Department of Education guidance document, Developing Programs for English Language Learner. Each chapter of this manual is aligned to a step and will provide detail on how each step can be accomplished.

The manual serves multiple purposes. It is a reference tool for state office, complex area, and school personnel who work with EL students. It provides guidance and a legal basis, as well as processes, tools, forms, and resources that will support schools and complex areas in meeting EL-related federal and state obligations. The manual also includes guidance from previous HIDOE memos and the 2012 Identification, Assessment, and Program Placement System for English Learners, and has been updated to reflect the changes in practice and law.