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Multilingual Learners Identified or Suspected of Having Educational Disabilities

Background

 

This webpage is designed to provide guidelines and resources for professionals and families supporting Multilingual Learners (MLs) who are also identified with or suspected of having educational disabilities, also known as Dually Identified students.

The appropriate referral, identification, and placement of learners who are Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse (CLD) is necessary to ensure students' civil rights as well as a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) aligned with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Resources, opportunities for training, workshops, and links to other sources of information on this topic are available below.

NOTE:  The Colorado Department of Education now uses the term Multilingual Learner (ML) to describe all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade who have been formally identified as English Learners using Colorado’s Standardized Identification Process and who are currently receiving English language development instruction.  Please refer to the Dear Colleague Letter from the CDE’s Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education for more information on the use of this inclusive term.

 

CDE Offices

online learning 2023-2024 Multilingual Learners with Educational Disabilities Webinar Series

Video: Teaching Early Literacy Skills to Multilingual Learners

Video: Literacy for Multilingual Learners with Educational Disabilities

Handout: Literacy for Multilingual Learners and Those with Educational Disabilities


 

Video: Multilingual Learner Identification, Obligations to serve, and Special Education Evaluation Considerations

Handout: Multilingual Learner Identification, Obligations to serve, and Special Education Evaluation Considerations


Video: Foundations of Dynamic Assessment for Multilingual Learners

Handout: Foundations of Dynamic Assessment for Multilingual Learners


IDEA requires that an interpreter be provided at no cost to the family with LEP at ALL IEP meetings and stipulates that the following documents MUST be translated into the family’s home language:

  • Prior Written Notices (PWN): The prior written notice provided to parents that proposes to initiate a change or reject a requested change in the identification, evaluation, or placement of a child with disabilities. (20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(4).)
  • Procedural Safeguards are delivered annually under the IDEA. (20 U.S.C. § 1415(d)(2).)
  • Consent to an evaluation (34 CFR § 300.9(a).)
  • IDEA mandates that parents are provided with an interpreter at all IEP Team meetings. (34 C.F.R. § 300.322.)

Colorado House Bill 23 1263 requires that IEP teams verbally inform a Multilingual Learner’s family of their right to a written translation or an oral translation of the final IEP into the dominant language used in the home, upon request, and at no cost.  See the CDE’s Fact Sheets on this legislation below:


Other Resources


Stay Up to Date  -  Manténgase Informada/o

Sign up for the Multilingual Learners with Disabilities listserv.  To request to be added to the MLDB Listserv email Roberta Curtis.

Regístrese en el servidor de listas de estudiantes multilingües con discapacidades.  Para pedir que lo/la registremos en el servidor de listas MLDB envíele un correo electrónico de Roberta Curtis.

Click here to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MLDB Listserv

Listserv Disclaimer:

A variety of learning opportunities, information, and resources are provided on this listserv. These materials do not represent an exhaustive list, nor are they required or endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The identification or description is for the purpose of providing information and resources and does not constitute CDE's endorsement. Every effort has been made to identify the citation for the resource; please maintain the citation and/or authorship when adapting or modifying these materials


For more information, please contact:

Hunter Smith
Multilingual Learners with Educational Disabilities Specialist
Phone (720) 202-2523
Email Hunter Smith (smith_h@cde.state.co.us)



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