STN FAQ>DOE-LM

Frequently Asked Questions
13. DOE-LM

Date Added		Question and Answer
03/15/07	Q	Should PK students be included on this report?
	A	PK students (language minority and/or immigrant) should only be reported on the DOE-LM if they are receiving direct services through the school district.

03/15/07	Q	How do I report a language level for PK students, since they are not tested for English proficiency?
	A	For PK LEP students being reported, the school can approximate a language level based on the Speaking/Listening indicators for each language level according to the IDOE chart at http://www.doe.in.gov/lmmp/pdf/languagelevels.pdf and use Code 4 for Field 6, Instrument Used. Fluent PK students reported for immigrant purposes can be reported as FEP, Code 7 in Field 6.

03/08/07	Q	If a student is tested and found to be fluent, can we stop testing her? And then, how long do we need to continue reporting her in the Language Minority (LM) collection?
	A	Students must continue to be assessed for English proficiency on an annual basis until attaining two consecutive scores of Level 5 on the LAS Links. Even then, you should continue to report such students in the DOE-LM (as FEP, Level 5) until they leave your district.

03/02/07	Q	Should students born outside the U.S. on a military base be reported on DOE-LM?
	A	If the student is not language minority, they do not need to be reported. If the student's home language survey indicates a language other than English, the English proficiency assessment would be administered to identify language minority status. These students are not considered immigrants.

03/02/07	Q	How should foreign-born children adopted prior to school age be reported? For instance, if a child from China is adopted at 3 months of age, grows up in Indiana and is now in K, does the district need to report the student as an immigrant?
	A	Usually students adopted in infancy would not considered to have a native language other than English and would not be language minority. According to Title III, immigrant status begins at age 3 so students adopted prior to this age would not be considered immigrants. A foreign-born student, aged 3 or older, must also be in their first three years of U.S. schooling to be considered an immigrant.

03/02/07	Q	Under Field 10, Length of Enrollment, what is the difference between first year and one year?
	A	Years of US schools completed is calculated October to October. For example, a student that enrolled in September 2005 would have completed one year of US schooling and would use code 1=one year. October 1, 2005 to October 1, 2006 = one year completed. Students enrolled after October 2, 2005 would be considered to be in their first year of US schooling and would use code 0=first year.

03/02/07	Q	How should our school report LEP students whose parents have declined services?
	A	These students are still LEP and should be reported as such in Field 4. Regardless of inclusion in the English language development program, students must continue to be assessed for English proficiency on an annual basis until attaining two consecutive scores of Level 5 on the LAS Links. In Field 13, Instructional Program, please select Regular Instruction Program. These students should still receive basic instructional accommodations (Lau v. Nichols) documented with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP).

03/02/07	Q	I have a new student and there is no code for his native language. How do I fill in Field 12, Native Language Code?
	A	Use code 999 – Other. Please call the Division of Language Minority and Migrant Programs at (317) 232-0555 or (800) 382-9962 so that a code can be created for the new language.

03/02/07	Q	Do foreign exchange students have to be reported on the DOE-LM?
	A	Yes. Field 11 asks if the language minority student is foreign exchange.

03/02/07	Q	How should Field 10, Length of US enrollment, be completed for a student that completed some schooling in the US, then returned to their home country, and has now re-enrolled in our school?
	A	Length of enrollment is calculated cumulatively including all schooling in the US. This does not start over upon re-enrollment.

03/02/07	Q	What is the state’s definition of immigrant as far as length of enrollment?
	A	Per Title III, sec. 3301(6), immigrant children and youth means individuals who, “are aged 3-21, were not born in any U.S. state or territory, and have not been attending one or more schools in any one or more States for more than three full academic years.”

03/02/07	Q	How do we classify students that are traditional Amish? LEP or FEP? I have always marked them FEP, level 5.
	A	If the Amish student speaks a language other than English at home, they are to be tested with the same English proficiency assessment process as all other language minority students. Based on the assessment, the student will be assigned a level of proficiency 1-5.

03/02/07	Q	We have several students whose first language was other than English. They have been fluent since the beginning of their education with us. What should we put for field 6 (Instrument Used)?
	A	Fluency is determined by use of a State approved English proficiency assessment. If one of these tests were not used, select ‘other.’ As this is a NCLB federal requirement, please ensure that all language minority students are given an English proficiency assessment. Public and charter schools must use the LAS Links assessment.

03/02/07	Q	In Column 13 (Instructional Program), these models pertain to instruction during the school day. How should assistance that is provided after school be reported?
	A	“Regular Education Program” would be used for students that do not receive English language development services during the regular school day.

03/02/07	Q	We have two students who have Hispanic fathers and American mothers. The students were born in the US, their first acquired language is English, and that is what they speak at home. Therefore, they are not language minority. However, they were reported last year at a different school. What should we do?
	A	These students are not language minority and will not be included in this year’s report.

03/02/07	Q	Would you clarify the statement to report all enrolled students on this report? Do you mean ALL students in the corporation or only ALL Language Minority students?
	A	Please report ONLY enrolled LANGUAGE MINORITY students. If you do not have any students to report, go to the STN application center under Data Transfer and Language Minority Input and check the box for “No Language Minority Students” to report.

03/02/07	Q	How does my school report zero language minority students?
	A	To report zero students, go to the STN application center under Data Transfer and Language Minority Input and check the box for “No Language Minority Students” to report.

03/02/07	Q	We have students who were born in England and only speak English but moved to our school this year. How do we report these students as immigrants since they were born outside the US and are in their first three years of US schools?
	A	These students are immigrant, not language minority. On Field 5, they should be reported as Code 6 – Native English Speaker.

03/02/07	Q	Do foreign exchange students have to be assessed for English proficiency level?
	A	Foreign exchange students should arrive with documentation of their English proficiency level. If the documentation indicates that the student is fluent, then no testing is necessary. If documentation of fluency is lacking, the student should be assessed and provided with English development services if needed.

03/02/07	Q	Anything else we should know?
	A	Data is gathered for language minority students enrolled during the collection period. English proficiency level data is based on tested conducted in Spring 2007 or Fall 2006 (Placement test).