The Language Assessment and Placement Center (LAPC)
Making Decisions in the Selection of Appropriate Academic Programs for
Second Language Learners

The primary purpose of the Language Assessment & Placement Center is to provide services for parents with students from pre-K through grade 12th, whose native language is not English.

Why does a student’s language dominance need to be identified before school registration?

A student’s language dominance needs to be identified to verify if he/she is eligible for Bilingual, DUAL Language, LEAP Program and/or English for Speakers of Other Languages services.

Commissioners Regulations
Part 154

• The regulations that are mandated to meet the academic needs of students identified as second language learners.
• NYS ELL students are also required to meet State Standards and NCLB requirements.
• The identification of students in need of services is mandatory for the allocation of State and Federal aid.

LEP Identification Process (Refer to LEP Identification Chart)

1. Screening-Enrollment – Administer Home Language Questionnaire HLQ: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/biling/pub/hlq.htm
2. Initial assessment: Administer Language Assessment Battery-Revised (LAB-R)
3. Program placement: Place student in appropriate program
4. Annual assessment: Spring-administer the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT)
5. Spanish speaking students are also assessed in Spanish using the LAS or Pre-LAS.

NEW

6. After 1 year in the United States, Limited English Proficient (LEP) students are to be administered both the NYSESLAT and the ELA.