At an Educational Management Team (EMT) or Collaborative Action Process (CAP) Team meeting, the Team members meet to discuss concerns about a child who is an English language learner.
If the concern is only speech-language and likely to require itinerant services, then the BAT is not involved at any point. The speech-language pathologist works with an interpreter, if needed.
If the concerns are broader than speech-language and might indicate a need for placement in a special education class and therefore require psychological and educational testing, then language dominance testing is required for any child who qualifies for ESOL. If the child no longer qualifies for ESOL support, and the child has been dismissed from ESOL within the year, language dominance testing may be done at the discretion of the EMT or CAP Team.
If a disability is suspected, the EMT makes a simultaneous referral to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team for screening and to the Bilingual Assessment Team (BAT) for language dominance testing and documents the date of a screening meeting in the “Strategies” section of the EMT or CAP notes. If a parent is present, the team obtains signed permission for language dominance testing on an “Authorization for Assessment” form (MCPS Form 336-31). All testing options are checked “no” except “Other,” where “Language dominance” should be specified.
The psychologist sends the following packet of information to the "Disabilities Coordinator, Pre-K/Head Start Unit, Rocking Horse Road Center," who will forward this information to the BAT office:
Packet Contents
1. Completed "Bilingual Assessment Team Referral Checklist" (MCPS Form 336-26) (Make a copy for the confidential file.)
2. "Authorization for Assessment" (MCPS Form 336-31)
3. Copy of EMT notes
4. "New Student Information" form (MCPS Form 560-24) in cumulative file
5. Pre-K/Head Start Parent Information sheet – in cumulative file
6. Information from the ESI-R and ECOR (educational screenings)
7. Pre-K/Head Start Parent Information sheet – Pre-K Questionnaire
8. Pre-K/Head Start Speech-Language Screening NOTE: The BAT will schedule a language dominance test when they know the date of the screening meeting.
The BAT instructional assessment specialist will assess the child and determine child’s dominant language for testing purposes. A memo is then sent to the school with a copy to the Pre-K/Head Start disabilities coordinator documenting dominant language for testing.
After language dominance has been determined, a Screening IEP meeting is held. The BAT instructional assessment specialist will attend if the child is not English dominant. The IEP team will decide at the screening meeting if further testing is needed.
If the child is English dominant, all assessments are done by Head Start Personnel.
If the child is not English dominant, the Head Start speech-language pathologist and psychologist are responsible for their respective assessments and a BAT instructional assessment specialist will complete the educational evaluation. The three assessments are done simultaneously in an “arena” format, so that the BAT instructional assessment specialist can help with the second language issues.
The IEP Team schedules an evaluation IEP meeting to discuss results of testing. The BAT instructional assessment specialist will attend the evaluation meeting.
|
