General Considerations

Given the state-specific guidelines for identifying English language learners and students with disabilities, the characteristics of ELLs with disabilities vary nationally.

• It is important to consider that ELLs with disabilities include students with diverse needs.
• A student’s needs may change over time due to acculturation and second language learning.
• To decide how an ELL with a disability will participate in a particular assessment, educators should consider the intensity of both disability and language-related needs.