Several characteristics may result in a student being identified as an English language learner, including
State Board of Education rules require that school districts have a process for surveying students, upon their enrollment in Florida public schools, to determine if they are English language learners. If survey results show that a student is an English language learner, the school then assesses the student to determine if he or she needs ESOL services. Within 30 days after the beginning of the school year, each school or school district is required to provide notice to parents of an English language learner identified for participation in a language instruction education program.
In the 2022-23 school year, there were 304,865 English language learners in Florida.
The State Board of Education requires that English language learners receive appropriate instruction until a student is reclassified as English proficient and exits from the ESOL program. English proficiency is determined by the statewide English Language Proficiency Assessment and the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA in ELA) or Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA), or by ELL Committee determination.
An English language learner in grades 3 to 12 is determined English language proficient and exited from the ESOL program upon obtaining
For students in kindergarten through grade 2, the statewide English Language Proficiency Assessment is the only assessment required for exiting the ESOL Program.
Websites of Interest
Education Commission of the States 50-State Comparison: English Language Learner Policies
Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition
National Center for Educational Statistics, Bilingual Education, Fast Facts
U.S. Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition
WIDA Consortium
Performance Information
Bureau of Student Achievement Through Language Acquisition, 850-245-0417, email: SALA@fldoe.org
Website