In Washington state, the following process is used to determine the eligibility of students for the Multilingual Learner Program:

A Home Language Survey is completed during enrollment.

1. If there is an indication of a language other than English spoken by the student and/ or family, the student information is shared with the school's ML Designee for review.
2. If a language other than English is spoken in the home, but not by the student the school's ML Designee may contact the family to confirm the student's language.
3. If the form indicates that the student speaks a language other than English in the home and/ or if the child first learned a language other than English, the ML designee initiates the process for determination of the student's English language proficiency level by administering the WIDA Screener.

OSPI has established eligibility criteria for English language development services. A workgroup was established to develop recommended criteria for each grade level. The recommendations of the workgroup, along with statements of concern or support from stakeholders, were included in the decision-making.  The table below are the approved thresholds by grade band. Students will need to meet both a minimum overall level and a minimum level in each domain to be ineligible for ML services.