Obtaining Services for English Learners
“Other Educational Programs and Services for Your Child” is the third chapter of the English Learner Family Toolkit, which is meant to support families of English learners (ELs) in the U.S. education system. Each chapter has five parts: (1) Overview, (2) Family and Student Rights, (3) Suggested Questions to Ask School Staff, (4) Tips for Families, and (5) Resources. Information in each chapter varies. As readers can choose to access only certain chapters of the toolkit, it is important to note that some information may be repeated in multiple chapters.
Overview
Schools provide opportunities for students beyond the general education program. These may include
- tutoring for students who need more support;
- advanced classes25 to challenge students;
- online or distance learning; and
- disability-related services26 for students with disabilities.
To find out what educational programs and services your child’s school offers, ask the school staff. They can help you find what is appropriate for your child. Some services require a fee, and for other services there is no cost. However, not all students are eligible. Ask the staff at your child’s school about eligibility for the programs. These educational programs may help your child’s learning, help your child explore their interests, and help them succeed academically and in life.
25 For example, the Advanced Placement (AP) Program offers classes with college-level coursework for high school students. Students seeking this academic challenge may choose from their school’s offered AP classes, each of which offers an optional, yearly AP exam. Students with a qualifying score on an AP exam might earn credits and/or accelerated placement in college. See https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/ap-a-glance. Some schools offer advanced courses through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which can also lead to college credits and/or accelerated placement in college. See https://www.ibo.org/. For students in other grade levels, schools may offer specialized coursework for gifted and talented students.
26 The term “disability-related services” may refer to special education and related services provided to children with disabilities who are eligible for services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and/or regular or special education and related aids and services provided to qualified students with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. See Chapter 3 for more information on disability-related services for EL students with disabilities.