English as a Second Language (ESL) students are carefully monitored for cognitive growth to insure that any identifications a special needs child is truly warranted and in the child's best interest. In any special education preceding, every attempt is made to have the parents understand the procedures. This includes providing a native language speaker for interpretation purposes. When testing ESL student's cognitive growth, the testing should be done in the student's native language. If no qualified native-speaking tester is available, an interpreter may assist the school's psychologist in the testing to interpret the language of the questions or statements of the test(s). The ESL coordinator should be included in the Multidisciplinary Evaluation (MDE) process for an ESL student. The ESL student with an IEP receives ESL instruction as well as the identified special education services.
