Am I Required to Complete a Parent Interview for Every Student?

Parent Interview Guidance Document

Not every student requires a parent interview. Students with no English on their home language survey may not need a parent interview, especially if they are entering a US School for the first time. When a parent reports English and another language(s) on the home language survey, a parent interview may be necessary to determine the student's language background.

As step two of the Home Language Survey Guidance suggests, conducting a parent interview and a records review will help prevent erroneous EL identifications.

Suggestions for clarifying information:

General Language Use at Home:

Which language does your child speak most often at home?
Who speaks these languages in the household (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents)?
Has your child been exposed to any other languages besides the ones spoken at home?
How often does your child interact with people who speak other languages (e.g., extended family and community members)?

What language does (the student) use watching TV? Movies/video games, church?

Language Development:

What languages did your child first speak (if more than one - in what order?)
Is there a language your child prefers to speak (e.g., one language over another)?

School and Community Language Use:

Has your child ever attended a preschool or daycare? If so, what languages were spoken there?
How does your child communicate in school or daycare settings?
Has your child ever received additional support for language learning (e.g., ESL, special education, speech therapy)?

Language Proficiency and Preferences:

Which language does your child feel most comfortable using when speaking with you or other family members?
In what language does your child perform best academically or express themselves most clearly?
Does your child experience difficulties speaking or understanding English or other languages outside the home?
Does your child prefer reading or writing in any specific language?

These questions help build a picture of the child's language history, preferences, and needs, allowing educators to make informed decisions about language support and academic planning.