Inconsistencies in English Learner Identification: An Inventory of How Home Language Surveys Across U.S. States Screen Multilingual Students

Abstract

Home Language Surveys (HLS) are widely used by states as an initial screening tool to determine whether students should receive English as a Second Language (ESL) services. Parents/guardians are asked to complete the surveys when enrolling a student into a school. We collected surveys from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. We completed them as if we were the parent/guardian of six use-case students. Research questions were (1) How do HLS vary from state to state, if at all? What kinds of questions do they ask? (2) How do HLS across the 50 states and the District of Columbia identify, or not, six fictitious students for further ESL screening? We found that states and U.S. Department of Education–approved HLS questions identified students differently due to unclear questions, such as asking bilingual families to name one dominant language. We recommend additional validation measures be taken with survey questions.