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Support center · New York State

ENL and Special Education: clear answers

🤝 The full co-teaching guide now lives in the Teacher Center: open the co-teaching guide · 8 worked examples · optional real-book example: a high-school ELA novel unit.

🌙 See co-teaching in action: a full high school ELA + ENL co-taught unit (The Midnight Library) with roles, levels Entering to Commanding, scaffolds and minute-by-minute plans. Open the teacher guide · Open the student course
🆕 Important change (2026-27): New York is joining the WIDA Consortium. The last NYSESLAT was in spring 2026. Starting spring 2027, English learners take the WIDA ACCESS (or Alternate ACCESS) test each year instead. The NYSITELL (the first English test for new students) continues until the WIDA Screener replaces it in fall 2027. Where this guide says "NYSESLAT", read it as "the yearly English test" (NYSESLAT before 2027, WIDA ACCESS from 2027). How students exit ELL status with WIDA ACCESS scores has not been published yet. Source: NYSED: WIDA Consortium and NYSED (checked Nov 7, 2026).

Know the steps. Know your rights. Walk into every meeting ready.

Plain-language guides to New York State rules for English as a New Language (ENL) and special education, with timelines, checklists, questions to ask, and the official source for every rule.

Who are you?

👪 FamiliesParents, guardians and caregivers: what to expect, your rights, and how to prepare. 🍎 TeachersCo-teaching models, scaffolds, IEP-at-a-glance, data templates, meeting scripts, checklists.

👪 For families

ENL: learning English at school

How children are identified, the 5 English levels, program choices, the NYSESLAT test, exiting ENL, and your rights.

Special education: IEPs and 504 plans

Referral, evaluation, eligibility, the CSE meeting, the IEP, services, testing accommodations, rights and dispute options.

ENL and special education together

When a child is learning English and also has a disability: both sets of services, evaluation in the home language.

All official sources

Every NYSED, NYS regulation and U.S. Department of Education page we used, checked Nov 7, 2026.

Need help right now?

📞 NYS ELL Parent Hotline

Free help for families of English language learners, in many languages. Phone 1-800-469-8224 · email nysparenthotline@nyu.edu. [source]

🧭 Long Island FACE Center

Free information and training for Long Island families of children with disabilities (part of the NYSED Office of Special Education partnership), hosted by the LIU Center for Community Inclusion. Phone 516-413-8229. [source]

🏛️ NYSED Office of Special Education

Questions about special education rules: 518-473-2878 · speced@nysed.gov. [source] [source]

🏫 Your school first

Start with your child's teacher, the school counselor, the ENL teacher, or the district's Committee on Special Education (CSE) chairperson. Ask for an interpreter if you want one; it is free. [source] [source]

Quick answers

What is the difference between ENL and special education?
ENL teaches English to students who are learning it; it is part of general education. Special education is specially designed teaching for a student with a disability, written in an IEP. A student can receive both. [source]
Who decides if my child needs ENL?
The school, using the Home Language Questionnaire, an interview and the NYSITELL test, within 10 school days of enrollment. You may ask for a review within 45 school days. [source]
Who decides if my child needs special education?
The Committee on Special Education (CSE), and you are a member of it. Nothing is tested or started for the first time without your written consent. [source]
Does this site keep any information about my child?
No. These pages collect nothing. Checklist ticks are saved only in your own browser.

🌎 Resumen en español

Esta sección explica, con palabras sencillas, las reglas del Estado de Nueva York para estudiantes que aprenden inglés (ENL) y para la educación especial (IEP y planes 504).

Familias: vea cómo se identifica a un estudiante, los cinco niveles de inglés, los programas, el examen NYSESLAT, la evaluación de educación especial, la reunión del comité (CSE), sus derechos y cómo resolver desacuerdos.

Ayuda gratis: Línea para padres de estudiantes ELL: 1-800-469-8224. Centro FACE de Long Island: 516-413-8229. Siempre puede pedir un intérprete gratis en la escuela.

Esta es información general, no es asesoría legal.

Official sources

Every rule on this page comes from these official pages (checked Nov 7, 2026). Rules can change. If a link and this page ever disagree, the official page wins.

  1. NYSED: Parents' Bill of Rights for ELL/MLL families and ELL Parent Hotline
  2. Long Island FACE Center (NYSED Office of Special Education partnership), LIU Center for Community Inclusion
  3. NYSED: Procedural Safeguards Notice, Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities
  4. NYSED: Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (updated Sept 2025)
  5. 34 CFR §300.322 (IDEA): parent participation, interpreters, free copy of the IEP
This is general information, not legal advice. We explain New York State and federal rules in plain words so families can make informed choices. For a decision about your child, talk with your school, a Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center, or a lawyer. Facts checked Nov 7, 2026.

More family guides

Saving and paying for education · NY ABLE accounts · IEP and 504 meeting guide · Regents exams and graduation · Parent-teacher conference guide · Homework help · How we protect your child

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