Preventing Inappropriate Placement of Language Minority Students in Special Education:
A Pre-referral Process
Step 1:
Is the student
experiencing
academic
difficulty?
No Problem
Process ends
NO



YES
Step 2:
Is the curriculum
known to be effective
for language minority
students?
NO
YES
Step 3:
Has the student’s
problem been
validated?
NO
YES
Step 4:
Is there evidence of
systematic efforts to
identify the source
of difficulty and take
corrective action?
NO
YES
YES
Step 5:
Do student
difficulties
persist?





Inter- and intra-setting
Intra- and intra-individual
Inter-teacher perceptions
Parental perceptions
Analysis of work samples
and behavior
Teacher:

Continuity of exposure

Domains

Scope and Sequence

Student’s entry level

Basic Skills

Higher cognitive skills

Mastery

Practice
YES
Instruction:
Student:

Motivate
* Experiential background

Sequence Instruction
* Language Proficiency
- Teach
* Cultural Characteristics
- Re-teach using different
* Cognitive/Learning style
approach
* Socioeconomic status
- Teach prerequisite skills
* Modes of communication

Language of instruction
* Self-concept
YES

Effective teaching behaviors
* Motivation

Coordination with other
programs
Evaluation of Instruction:
* Standards * Staff development
* On-going data collection * Modification based on evaluation
Have other
programming
alternatives been tried?
Problem solving
was successful.
Process ends
NO
YES
YES
Step 7:
Do difficulties
continue in spite
of alternatives?
Exposure to Curriculum:
* Qualifications
* Experience
* Track record
* Teaching style
* Expectations
* Perceptions
* Instructional management
* Behavioral management

NO
Step 6:
Adapt
Supplement
Develop
RESOURCES:
(at all stages)
*Administrators
*Planning time
*Mandates
*Colleagues
*Staff Development
*Parents/Guardians
*Consultants
*Related agencies
*Instructional resource
*Community resources
NO


Determine
program/placement
alternatives, (e.g. Chapter
I, tutorial services)
Student remains in
alternative program
as appropriate.
YES
December 2008 created by ESL Consortium – Arch Ford COOP
Referral to Special Education
Special Education