1. Enrollment Protocol

2. Your Front Office Packet
Every school received an updated copy of the GISD ESOL Program Front Office Packet in If it is not available, please contact your district’s ESL Point of contact (POC). The Front Office Packet includes:
Home Language Survey (13 languages provided)
Language and Literacy Background Survey( 5 most common languages provided)
Translation Line Service Information
General conference forms and and permission forms (11 languages)

3. Guidelines for Enrolling EL
Public schools will enroll students living within appropriate district line.
While our students in the US typically graduate high school at 17-18, that is not always the case internationally. Students may enroll up to age 20.
Please make sure your school enrollment forms do not include social security numbers

4. ESL Eligibility Process
When enrolling a student in school, families complete the Home Language Survey Is your child’s native tongue a language other than English? YES NO Is the primary language used in your child’s home or environment a language other than English? One YES is enough to move forward. Please scan and the paperwork to your district Point of Contact immediately, and give the family a copy of the Language and Literacy Background Survey. Student UIC numbers can be requested at this time
Variety or reasons for a YES: Bilingual families, another language from another generation, immigrants, international adoption.

5. Language and Literacy Background Survey
LLBS gives teachers and ESOL staff helpful information in understanding the student’s previous experiences.
Parents might need help completing it, or might need it in their native language.
While it is important, the LLBS is not required to do the initial language screening. Your district can work to determine EL Eligibility while you wait for families to return it.

6. False Positives?
Occasionally a family has difficulty understanding the questions on the HLS and incorrectly marks “Yes”
You may clarify the question with the family to avoid “false positives” but please to not assess the student’s English ability. GISD staff will use the Michigan Department of Education Eligibility protocol to determine is a student is in need of support from the ESOL Program.
If a parent has incorrectly marked “yes” then please have them fill out a new home language survey. We do not want a student to be misidentified as EL.

7. Timeline
In the first month of school, districts/GISD have 30 days to enroll students, screen their language proficiency, determine eligibility, and begin ESOL services
After the first month of school, the timeline decreases to only 10 day.
Do not delay paperwork or communication to your district’s POC

8. Transcripts
At times your students will bring international transcripts.
Remember, not all educational systems operate the same as the United States. Grades, curriculum, and educational tracks might be different.
GISD staff can help support your district’s understanding of these transcripts

9. What if There Are No Transcripts?
While this seems like a major issue, it does happen on occasion.
In rare cases, such as civil war or natural disaster within the native country, the transcripts have been destroyed.

10. In other cases, there are international transcripts being sent from another country. It may take weeks to receive international transcripts. Do not delay enrollment.
There is a protocol to follow that will help in placing the student,- again contact your Point of contact, and the GISD for support in this issue.