Rules & Legislation
State Board of Education Rules
- Rule 6A-1.09951, FAC, Requirements for the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program
- Rule 6A-6.0902, FAC, Requirements for Identification, Eligibility, and Programmatic Assessments of English Language Learners
- Rule 6A-4.02451, FAC, Florida Teacher Standards for ESOL Endorsement
- Rule 6A-1.09432, FAC, Assessment of Limited English Proficient Students
- Rule 6A-6.0901, FAC, Definitions Which Apply to Programs for English Language Learners
- Rule 6A-6.0903, FAC, Requirements for Exiting English Language Learners from the English for Speakers of Other Languages Program
- Rule 6A-6.0904, FAC, Equal Access to Appropriate Instruction for English Language Learners
- Rule 6A-0905, FAC, Requirements for the District English Language Learners Plan
- Rule 6A-6.0906, FAC, Monitoring of Programs for English Language Learners
- Rule 6A-6.0907, FAC, Inservice Requirements for Personnel of Limited English Proficient Students
- Rule 6A-6.0908, FAC, Equal Access for English Language Learners to Programs Other than English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- Rule 6A-6.0909, FAC, Exemptions Provided to English Language Learners
- Rule 6A-6.09091, FAC, Accommodations of the Statewide Assessment Program Instruments and Procedures for English Language Learners
Consent Decree
The Consent Decree is the state of Florida's framework for compliance with the following federal and state laws and jurisprudence regarding the education of English Language Learner (ELL) students:
- Title VI and VII Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Office of Civil Rights Memorandum (Standards for Title VI Compliance) of May 25, 1970
- Requirements based on the Supreme Court decision in Lau v. Nichols, 1974
- Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974
- Requirements of the Vocational Education Guidelines, 1979
- Requirements based on the Fifth Circuit court decision in Castañeda v. Pickard, 1981
- Requirements based on the Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe, 1982
- Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 94-142)
- Florida Education Equity Act, 1984
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Consent Decree addresses the civil rights of ELL students, foremost among those their right to equal access to all education programs. In addressing these rights, the Consent Decree provides a structure that ensures the delivery of the comprehensible instruction to which ELL students are entitled.
Section I: Identification and Assessment
Synopsis: All students with limited English proficiency must be properly identified and assessed to ensure the provision of appropriate services. The Consent Decree details the procedures for placement of students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, their exit from the program, and the monitoring of students who have been exited.
Section II: Equal Access to Appropriate Programming
Synopsis: All ELL students enrolled in Florida public schools are entitled to programming, which is appropriate to their level of English proficiency, their level of academic achievement, and any special needs they may have. ELL students shall have equal access to appropriate English language instruction, as well as instruction in basic subject areas, which is understandable to the students given their level of English proficiency, and equal and comparable in amount, scope, sequence and quality to that provided to English language learner (or non-ELL) students.
Section III: Equal Access to Appropriate Categorical and Other Programs for ELL Students
Synopsis: ELL students are entitled to equal access to all programs appropriate to their academic needs, such as compensatory, exceptional, adult, vocational or early childhood education, as well as dropout prevention and other support services, without regard to their level of English proficiency.
Section IV: Personnel
Synopsis: This section details the certificate coverage and inservice training teachers must have in order to be qualified to instruct ESOL students. Teachers may obtain the necessary training through university course work or through school district provided inservice training. The Consent Decree details specific requirements for ESOL certification and inservice training and sets standards for personnel delivering ESOL instruction.
Section V: Monitoring Issues
Synopsis: The Florida Department of Education is charged with the monitoring of local school districts to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Consent Decree pursuant to federal and state law and regulations including Section 229.565, Florida Statutes (Educational Evaluation Procedures) and Section 228.2001, Florida Statues (Florida Educational Equity Act). This monitoring is carried out by the Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition (SALA), Division of Public Schools, Florida Department of Education.
Section VI: Outcome Measures
Synopsis: The Florida Department of Education is required to develop an evaluation system to address equal access and program effectiveness. This evaluation system is to collect and analyze data regarding the progress of ELL students and include comparisons between the LEP population and the non-ELL population regarding retention rates, graduation rates, dropout rates, grade point averages and state assessment scores.