FAQs for English Language Learners

By New York City Department of Education Staff

  • Do parents have to have a birth certificate or passport to enroll a child in school?
    By law, students who are undocumented may not be denied admission to school, and they are not required to present documentation of immigration status or US residency. More information on public school registration can be found on the website.

  • What if parents don’t meet the immunization requirements for their child’s school enrollment?
    Children who do not meet these requirements may be admitted provisionally with a plan to complete the doses in the vaccination schedule. Complete information on the steps for enrollment and application for grades pre-kindergarten and kindergarten is available online in 10 languages.

  • Where can parents locate a translator to interpret for their school visits?
    Schools can provide this service, but it should be requested in advance.

  • Why don’t all schools have bilingual programs?
    Bilingual programs are formed based on parent choice and require a minimum number of students in the same or contiguous grades that speak the same home language (see page 9). Therefore, some schools may not have enough ELLs of the same home language in the same or contiguous grades to form bilingual programs. Instead, schools must offer ESL programs to serve ELLs.

  • What is the difference between Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) and Dual Language programs?
    TBE programs group students of one common home language and use that language to help students develop subject matter and language skills as they learn English. As students develop English-language skills, instructional time in the native language decreases, and instructional time in English increases. Once a TBE student is proficient in English, he/she transitions to an all-English class. In Dual Language programs, students of one home language and monolingual English or English proficient students are grouped together and taught in both languages. ELLs remain in the program even after they become proficient in English.

  • Where can ELL parents get more information
    about free ESL classes?
    Several sites can offer assistance, including:
    The Office of Adult and Continuing Education for the New York City Department of Education
    The New York Public Library site

  • Where can parents find out more information on U.S. Citizenship classes?
    Several sites can offer assistance, including:
    http://www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?section_id=5&page_id=4

Web Resources for Parents*

Publications

Guide for Immigrants in New York City
The New York Times
Thomas Dunne Books

The Parent’s Homework Dictionary
McLaughlin, Dan J.
Spanish & English
Damand Promotions

Parents and Teachers Working Together
Davis, Carol, Yang, Alice
Northeast Foundation for Children

Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14: A Resource for Parents and Teachers
Wood, Chip
Northeast Foundation for Children

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Covey, Stephen
Spanish & English
Published by Simon & Schuster

The Kid's Guide to New York City (Kid's Guides Series)
Eileen Ogintz with Reggie Yemma
Insiders’ Guide
Globe Pequot Press

* The following sites have proven useful to staff members in the Office of ELLs and are shared for informational purposes only. The Department of Education is not responsible for the content of websites outside of the department.