FIGURE 4-1 ELL classification and reclassification procedures.

^aSome states use multiple exit criteria (e.g., a proficiency test, an academic achievement test, teacher’s judgment, local assessments, parental input, language team review, etc.). They may be administered or monitored simultaneously or meeting one criterion may be required to sequentially “trigger ” administration or review of others.

^bStudents who exit ESL must be followed for 2 years per federal law. On rare occasions, reclassified fluent English proficient students are judged to have been exited prematurely and are returned to ELL status to receive needed linguistic and academic services.