A student recently enrolled and the HLS indicated English for all questions. However, we discovered that the student speaks a form of Liberian English, which is not the same as American English. Can we screen this student for EL programming?

PDE allows districts a little latitude here. They should first determine which form of Liberian English (or English from another country) a child or family speaks through our family interview process. Some forms are quite distinct from American English (Kru Pidgin, Kreyol, etc.). That being the case, we do allow screening for students whose HLS indicates English for all questions but who speak one of the forms of English that are different enough from standard American English that the student might require language supports. After all, if the form of English a student speaks could put them at an academic disadvantage, and it is tied to their national origin, then it is a Title VI issue.