escWorks

Presented By:  Jessica Kelley, M.S., CCC/SLP, Speech Language Consultant and Gracee Condor, MA, NCSP, Special Education Evaluation Consultant

Evaluating emergent bilingual learners requires careful consideration of language development, educational experiences, access to instruction, and the potential for misidentification. This session explores best practices for conducting fair, comprehensive special education evaluations that distinguish language difference from potential disability while considering the individual student. Participants will examine strategies for gathering meaningful data through multiple assessment methods, considering linguistic and experiential factors that may influence assessment performance, and collaborating with families, educators, and language specialists. Legal and ethical considerations will be integrated throughout to promote procedural accuracy and support thoughtful, well-informed evaluation decisions for emergent bilingual learners.

This session will help participants:

• Differentiate characteristics of language acquisition from patterns that may indicate a disability requiring further evaluation.
• Analyze language proficiency, educational history, learning opportunities, and cultural factors when planning and interpreting special education evaluations.
• Apply multiple assessment methods and data sources to support comprehensive evaluation of emergent bilingual learners.
• Integrate input from families, educators, and language specialists to develop a holistic understanding of student strengths and needs.
• Evaluate assessment practices for potential linguistic or cultural bias to support fair and defensible eligibility decisions.

***This program has been submitted for approval for 3 hours of continuing education in the Distinct Populations domain for school psychologists in CE Broker.***

This session is free to members of the Special Education Cooperative.