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Families · ENL

English as a New Language (ENL): a family guide

🆕 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).

Speaking another language is a strength. ENL adds English to it.

In New York State, a student who is still learning English is called an English Language Learner (ELL) or Multilingual Learner (MLL). The school must find out, quickly and fairly, if your child needs English support, tell you in your language, and let you choose a program. Here is every step.

How a child is identified (screening)

This happens when your child first enrolls in a New York public school, or comes back after being away. The whole identification must be done within 10 school days of enrollment. [source] [source]

  1. Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ)At enrollmentYou answer questions about the languages your child speaks and understands. NYSED has it in many languages. If the only home language is English, screening stops here. [source] [source]
  2. Individual interviewRight after the HLQTrained staff talk with your child in English and the home language (with a qualified interpreter if needed). They look at reading, writing and math work. [source] [source]
  3. If your child has an IEP: Language Proficiency TeamBefore any testA team decides if your child should take the English test, so a disability is not mistaken for a language need. You are told the final decision within 5 school days. [source]
  4. NYSITELL testWithin 10 school days of enrollmentA short English test, given one time only. A score under the state's cut point means your child is identified as an ELL. [source] [source]
  5. Letter to youWithin 5 school days of being identifiedA written letter, in English and your preferred language, with your child's English level, your right to ask for a review, and the date of the parent orientation. [source] [source]
  6. Parent orientationBefore placementThe school explains Bilingual Education and ENL in your language so you can choose. Your child is still placed even if you cannot attend. [source] [source]
  7. Your program choice and placementWithin 10 school days of enrollmentYou have 10 school days to return the choice form. If it is not returned, the child is placed in Bilingual Education if the school has one for that grade and language; if not, in ENL. [source] [source]
Students with interrupted schooling (SIFE). If your child missed school for a long time before coming to the U.S., the school uses a short oral questionnaire and a reading and math check in the home language to plan the right support. [source] [source]
Coming back? A student who returns to a New York school within two years keeps the ELL status from before. After more than two years away, the identification steps start again. [source]

Do you disagree? Ask for a review

  1. Ask in writingWithin 45 school days of the ELL decisionA parent or guardian, a teacher, or a student 18 or older may ask the school to review the ELL decision. [source]
  2. The school startsWithin 10 school days of your requestThe school reviews the HLQ, the interview, test results and work samples. [source]
  3. The school decidesWithin 10 school days (20 if the special education committee is consulted)If the decision changes, you get it in writing and must give written consent before it is final. [source]
  4. A second look6 to 12 months laterIf the ELL status was removed, the principal checks that your child is doing well without ENL. [source]

The 5 English levels

The NYSITELL and the NYSESLAT place every ELL at one of five levels. Words in quotes are NYSED's descriptions, shortened. [source]

1 · Entering 360 min/week

Needs a lot of support to learn school English (“great dependence on supports”).

2 · Emerging 360 min/week

Needs some support (“some dependence on supports”).

3 · Transitioning 180 min/week

Shows some independence with school English but is not there yet.

4 · Expanding 180 min/week

Shows great independence and is close to the level needed in class.

5 · Commanding Former ELL

Has reached English proficiency. No longer an ELL; gets 2 years of former-ELL support.

Minutes are for grades K-8 (grade 6 included), per the NYSED NYSESLAT parent brochure. [source] [source]

Program choices

🗣️ Stand-alone ENL

English language class taught by a certified ESOL teacher, to build English for school. [source] [source]

🤝 Integrated ENL

English is taught inside a regular class (like ELA, math or science). It is taught by a teacher certified in both ESOL and the subject, or by two teachers who co-teach. [source] [source]

🌎 Bilingual Education

Classes in English and the home language. Transitional Bilingual moves toward English while still learning subjects in the home language. Dual Language builds two languages and may include English speakers. [source]

The rule of 20. A school must open a Bilingual program when 20 or more ELLs in the same grade share the same home language. If your school has no Bilingual program in your language, you may ask to transfer to a district school that has one. ENL is the minimum every ELL receives. [source] [source]

Minutes of ENL each week (grades K-8, including grade 6)

A “unit of study” = 180 minutes a week. [source] The mix of stand-alone and integrated time is set by the state table. [source] [source]

LevelTotal each weekStand-alone ENLIntegrated ENLFlexible time*
Entering360 min (2 units)180 min180 min (ENL/ELA)none
Emerging360 min (2 units)90 min180 min (ENL/ELA)90 min
Transitioning180 min (1 unit)none required90 min (ENL/ELA)90 min
Expanding180 min (1 unit)none required180 min (ENL/ELA or another core class)none
Commanding (former ELL)90 min, for 2 yearsnone required90 min integrated, or other state-approved former-ELL supportnone

*Flexible time may be stand-alone ENL or integrated ENL in a core class, chosen by the school. Grades 9-12 use a different table (for example, 540 minutes at Entering). Always ask your school for your child's exact schedule. [source] [source] [source]

The NYSESLAT: one English test each spring

What and when

Every ELL takes the NYSESLAT each year, usually in April and May, until reaching Commanding. It has four parts: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing. [source] [source]

Results

The school gives you a NYSESLAT score report showing your child's level and progress. The new level decides next year's ENL minutes. [source]

Regular ELL testing helps (like extra time) do not apply on the NYSESLAT itself. A student with an IEP or 504 plan gets the testing accommodations written in that plan. [source]

Leaving ENL, and the 2 years after

  1. Way 1Any grade K-12Score Commanding on the NYSESLAT. [source]
  2. Way 2 (grades 3-8)Same school yearScore Expanding on the NYSESLAT and a 3 or above on the NYS ELA test. [source] [source]
  3. Way 2 (grades 9-12)Same school yearScore Expanding on the NYSESLAT and 65 or above on the Regents Exam in English. [source]
  4. Former ELL support2 school yearsAt least 90 minutes a week of integrated ENL (or other state-approved support), and testing accommodations on NYS tests for up to 2 years. [source]

Help on NYS tests for ELLs

On NYS tests (not the NYSESLAT), ELLs and former ELLs (for 2 years) may receive: [source] [source]

Your rights as an ELL family (NYS Parents' Bill of Rights)

NYSED lists 17 rights. Here they are in short, plain words. [source]

  1. A free public education, no matter your immigration status or language.
  2. To enroll without being asked for papers that show immigration status.
  3. A qualified interpreter or translator in your language for important school matters.
  4. A Bilingual program when 20 or more students in the grade share the home language.
  5. A written letter, in English and your language, saying your child is an ELL and how they will be placed.
  6. A good orientation in your language before final placement.
  7. Information on your child's English growth (and home language growth in Bilingual programs).
  8. At least one extra meeting each year with school staff about your child's progress.
  9. Placement in Bilingual or ENL within 10 days of enrollment; you may opt out of Bilingual, and ENL is the minimum.
  10. A transfer to another district school with a Bilingual program in your language, if yours has none.
  11. Equal access to all district programs, services and graduation requirements.
  12. Core subjects taught at the same academic level as other students.
  13. Full access to clubs, sports and after-school activities.
  14. Support services, such as Academic Intervention Services.
  15. Yearly English testing and information on state test results.
  16. To stay in Bilingual or ENL as long as your child is an ELL.
  17. To contact the NYSED Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages if a right is not respected.
ELL Parent Hotline: 1-800-469-8224 · nysparenthotline@nyu.edu [source]

Getting ready for a meeting

Bring to the meeting

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Questions to ask

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Questions families ask

Will ENL keep my child out of regular classes?
No. ELLs have the right to core subjects at the same academic level as other students and full access to programs and activities. Integrated ENL happens inside regular classes. [source] [source]
Can I say no to ENL?
You may choose ENL instead of Bilingual Education. NYSED's Bill of Rights says ENL is the minimum program for an ELL, and your child stays in it until exit criteria are met. [source] [source]
Should we stop speaking our home language at home?
Keep using it. NYSED programs (Bilingual and Dual Language) are built on the home language as a strength, and the home language is part of every ENL class's supports. Reading, talking and telling stories at home in any language helps learning.
Will my immigration status be asked?
Schools may not ask for papers that show immigration status to enroll your child. [source]
I don't speak English well. Can I still take part?
Yes. You have the right to a qualified interpreter or translator for important school matters, at no cost. [source]
Can my child be checked for a disability while learning English?
Yes. There is no waiting period before a newly arrived ELL can be evaluated, and the evaluation must look at a possible disability, not English skills. See ENL and special education together. [source] [source]
Does ELL status show on a diploma?
No. ENL is a support service. Your child works toward the same diplomas as every New York student. Integrated ENL classes give content-area credit in high school; stand-alone ENL gives elective credit. [source]

Words to know

ELL / MLL
English Language Learner / Multilingual Learner: a student who is learning English as an added language.
ENL
English as a New Language: the program that teaches English to ELLs.
ESOL teacher
A teacher certified in English to Speakers of Other Languages.
HLQ
Home Language Questionnaire, filled in by families at enrollment.
NYSITELL
New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners. Given once, at entry.
NYSESLAT
New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test. Given every spring to ELLs.
Stand-alone ENL
An English development class with an ESOL teacher.
Integrated ENL
English taught inside a core class, often by two co-teachers.
Unit of study
180 minutes of instruction a week.
Former ELL
A student who reached proficiency in the past 2 years; still gets support.
SIFE
Students with Interrupted/Inconsistent Formal Education.
OBEWL
NYSED Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages.
RBERN
Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network: NYSED's regional help for schools.

🌎 Resumen en español: ENL

Identificación: al inscribirse, usted llena el Cuestionario del Idioma del Hogar (HLQ). Si se habla otro idioma, hay una entrevista y el examen NYSITELL dentro de 10 días escolares. Recibirá una carta en su idioma dentro de 5 días escolares.

Programas: Inglés como Nuevo Idioma (ENL) o Educación Bilingüe. Usted elige después de una orientación. Si 20 o más estudiantes del mismo grado hablan su idioma, la escuela debe abrir un programa bilingüe.

Niveles: Principiante (Entering), Emergente (Emerging), En transición (Transitioning), En expansión (Expanding) y Dominio (Commanding). En 6.º grado: 360 minutos semanales en los dos primeros niveles y 180 en los dos siguientes.

NYSESLAT: examen de inglés cada primavera (abril y mayo). Su hijo sale de ENL con nivel Commanding, o con Expanding más un 3 o más en el examen de ELA del estado (grados 3 a 8). Después recibe 2 años de apoyo.

Derechos: intérprete gratis, orientación en su idioma, una reunión extra cada año sobre el progreso, acceso igual a clases y actividades. Línea de ayuda: 1-800-469-8224.

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: ELL Identification & Placement / Home Language Questionnaire
  2. NYSED: ELL Identification Chart Guidance (CR Part 154)
  3. 8 NYCRR §154-2.3 (ELL identification, placement timelines), NYSED Office of Counsel
  4. NYSED: CR Part 154-2 (K-8) ENL Units of Study and Staffing table
  5. NYSED: Units of Study Tables for ENL and Bilingual Education
  6. NYSED: Units of Study Glossary
  7. NYSED: NYSESLAT Parent Information Brochure
  8. NYSED: Former ELL/MLL Services and exit criteria
  9. NYSED: ELL/MLL Assessment and Testing Accommodations
  10. NYSED: Parents' Bill of Rights for ELL/MLL families and ELL Parent Hotline
  11. NYSED OBEWL + Office of Special Education joint memo (Jan 2024): Bilingual and ENL services for ELLs who are students with disabilities
  12. NYSED: 8 NYCRR §200.4 (referral, evaluation, IEP, placement, review)
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.