Requirement

CSPP contractors are required to use the Family Language Instrument and the directives in MB 25-07 for all children, including those children dually enrolled in TK and CSPP, to identify DLLs in CSPP, except as provided below.

For children that are dually enrolled in kindergarten and CSPP for Extended Learning and Care, contractors may do either of the following for the purposes of determining DLL status in CSPP:

• Conduct the Family Language Instrument to determine the DLL status of the child, or

• Use the child’s designation as an EL student through the state assessment for English Language Proficiency, as provided in the “Determining DLL Status” directive below.

For any child in CSPP, if the contractor determines that the child is a DLL as described above, the contractor must conduct the Family Language and Interest Interview.

Contractors are required to report child and program data to the California Department of Education (CDE) as directed in the Data Reporting section below.

Regulations/Reference

Management Bulletin: MB 25-07
Dual Language Learner Support Webpage

Monitoring Review Evidence

• Family data file includes documentation of Family Language Instrument completed for each child

• Family data file includes documentation of Family Language and Interest Interview with families for all children identified as dual language learners.

Family Language Instrument

The Family Language Instrument is a four question survey that can be included within the enrollment packet for families to complete as part of the application process or asked through an interview process with the child’s family.

NOTE: It is strongly encouraged to communicate the intent & purpose of the instrument prior to families completing. To the extent possible, the instrument should be provided in the language the family speaks.

The Family Language Instrument must be:

• Completed upon enrollment

  • Part-Day CSPP programs: the first day the child is scheduled to receive state preschool services

  • Full-day CSPP programs: the date the contractor certified the family for services.

• One for each child even if there are multiple children in the same family

• Maintained in the family data file

A child is considered a dual language learner if the answer to questions 1, 3, or 4 indicates that they speak a language other than English.

If the family declines to answer any of the Family Language Instrument questions, the contractor may write “Undetermined” within the response field.

If the family declines to state responses for all Family Language Instrument questions, the contractor may write “Parent Opts Out” for each question in the instrument. 

NOTE: If the parent chooses not to complete the Family Language Instrument, it will not impact the child’s enrollment in the program or the child’s eligibility for services.

For families who initially indicted English only, but program staff determine within 30 calendar days for State Preschool or 45 days for General Child Care or Migrant Programs, though child observations, that the child demonstrates they speak, respond to, or understand a language other than English, the contractor must share these observations with the family & review the responses to the instrument, updating as necessary to ensure proper designation.

This will require an update to the DLL designation within your records and the reporting system for CSPP contractors to either a parent update which is when the parent updates their responses to the Family Language Instrument or teacher/staff designation which can only occur when the parent refuses to update their answers on the Family Language Instrument.

NOTE: The initial date the instrument was administered should not change as this date demonstrates you are meeting compliance of conducting the instrument no later than upon enrollment. 

If Teacher/Staff Designation is used, contractors must include the following in the family file:

1. Written observations for how the child has demonstrated they speak, respond to, or understand a language other than English, &

2. Documentation from conversation with the family about their responses to the Family Language Instrument

Obtaining Child’s Designation

For children that are enrolled in a K-12 program, contractors can seek to obtain the child's English Learner designation to determine Dual language learner status by:

• Asking family for the child’s English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) Student Score Report document

• Family signing a consent form to have information directly shared with the contractor, or

• Contractor enters into a written agreement following Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines in order to share that information

• If the contractor is the LEA serving the child, then the LEA may share the child’s English learner status with the LEA’s preschool staff without consent or written agreement.

If a contractor is unable to obtain the EL designation they must conduct the Family Language Instrument to determine the DLL status of the child. 

How to Support Dual Language Learners

After determining the DLL status of the child, contractors must conduct the Family Language and Interest Interview with families of all children identified as dual language learners.

When scheduling the interview with families, allow about 15 minutes for each interview and embed into your already existing family engagement structure.

During the interview, teachers should:

• Engage in rich dialogue with families

• Share resources & tools families can use at home

Data Reporting Requirements

According to the regulations, contractors are required to maintain data on dual language learners; however, reporting requirements differs for each department.

For State Preschool programs, contractors are required to report data on dual language learners enrolled in a CSPP along with family, classroom, and teacher information. This is done through the :

• Preschool Language Information System (PLIS) for non-LEA CSPP contractors

• CAPSDAC system for LEA CSPP contractors

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