Helpful Links and Resources

• Selected links for ESL students/teachers
• Information in English about education in Washington State
• Información en Español sobre educación en el estado de Washington
• Information about the Washington Language Proficiency Test (WLPT)
• Información (en inglés) sobre El Examen de Capacidad de Inglés (WLPT)
• The WLPT-II consists of two tests:
  • The Placement Test is used to determine initial English language levels and student eligibility for ELL services. The Placement Test is given to all students who answer “yes” to question #2 on the Home Language Survey: “Does your child have a first language other than English?”
  • After taking the Washington Language Proficiency Placement Test (WLPT II:  Placement), parents whose children qualify to participate in Bethel’s ELL program are notified by the corresponding school’s ELL teacher.

  • The Annual Test is given to all students who qualify for services with the Placement Test and to determine whether the student is eligible to continue to receive ELL services.

• Legal basis for ELL: Immigrant Student’s Rights to Attend Public Schools, and other resources relating to this legal basis.

  Author: National Coalition of Advocates for Students (August 2002)
  The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Plyler vs. Doe (457 U.S. 202 (1982)) that undocumented children and young adults have the same right to attend public primary and secondary schools as do U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Like other children, undocumented students are obliged under state law to attend school until they reach a mandated age.

  Students without social security numbers should be assigned a number generated by the school. Adults without social security numbers who are applying for a free lunch and/or breakfast program on behalf of a student need only indicate on the application that they do not have a social security number.

  Changes in the F-1 (Student) Visa Program do not alter the Plyler obligations to undocumented children. These changes apply only to students who apply for a student visa from outside the U.S.

  Finally, school personnel—especially building principals and those involved with student intake activities—should be aware that they have no legal obligation to enforce U.S. immigration laws. (U.S. Supreme Court, 1982)

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