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English Learner (EL) Pre-Referral Flow Chart Questions

This decision-making flow chart includes target questions that Child Study teams or MTSS teams should address when working through the pre-referral decision-making process. Each school or district may modify these questions to reflect their own policies and procedures, but the outline of this flow chart provides some key decision points that should be considered when making referral decisions for English learners prior to special education initial evaluation with an emphasis on collaboration with general education teachers, interventionists, EL experts, special education staff and the family should be integral to the process of responding to each of the questions posed in the process.

This tool is adapted from Timothy Tipton, MA, CCC-SLP and Angela Gaviria, EdS, from the San Diego Unified School District.

Grade Level

Early Learning Elementary School (K-5) High School (9-12) Middle School (6-8)