When all new families register in Natick, they complete a Language Survey. This determines whether their child must be screened for English Proficiency per state and federal law.

1. Families complete the Language Survey in their preferred language during the enrollment process. (Language Survey Purpose)

2. The Multilingual Education Department looks at the results of the Language Survey to determine if the student's English Proficiency must be screened.

3. Families will receive a notice if their child will be screened. (Parental Notification Regarding English Language Screening)

4. Trained test administrators administer the Pre-K Screening Tool or the WIDA Screener (K-12). Students are provided accommodations if required by their IEP. (What is the WIDA Screener?)

5. The results of the Screener and a notice of whether the student qualifies for English Learner Education are sent to the families (Initial Parent Notification Letter of English Language Education Placement)

Note for families transferring from other districts or states: We can only accept English Language Proficiency results from states that are part of the WIDA Consortium per Massachusetts regulations.

All incoming Kindergarten students who have a language other than English on their Language Surveys must be screened with WIDA Screener for Kindergarten regardless of their EL or non-EL status when they were in Pre-K.

Kindergarten students that enroll at the beginning of the school year will take only the Speaking and Listening components of the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten test. If a student enrolls in the district in the second half of the student’s kindergarten year, then the student will take all four components of the test: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC)

Families and their communities foster a child’s academic and social and emotional development and growth. As such, collaborative partnerships among schools, families, and community organizations are crucial to student engagement and success. One way for schools to form partnerships with parents and guardians of English Learners (ELs) is to establish English Learner Parent Advisory Councils (ELPACs) to promote and support the success of ELs.

 ELPACs are intended by law to advise school districts and schools regarding matters that impact ELs, such as providing advice on English learner education programs, meeting regularly with school officials about educational opportunities for ELs, and providing input on school or district improvement plans as they relate to ELs.

If you are interested in being a member of the ELPAC, please reach out to the Multilingual Education Department!

Languages Spoken in Natick in Addition to English: