Guidance and Laws

State Guidance

• Guidance for Implementing Dual Language Education Programs

• Guidance on English Learner Education Services and Programming

• Guidance for Supporting English Learners with Disabilities

• Guidance for Implementing the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy

• Guidance for English Learner Parent Advisory Councils

• Guidance for Implementing Transitional Bilingual Education Programs

• Guidance for the Use of Benchmarks Toward Attaining English Proficiency

• Massachusetts Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) Definition and Guidance

• Enrolling and Supporting Newcomer Students in Massachusetts Schools & Districts Frequently Asked Questions

• Guide to Assigning Scores for Missing Domains on ACCESS for ELLs Tests

• Guidance for Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Programs
• Next Generation ESL Curriculum Resource Guide

Federal Guidance

• US Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter

• English Learner Tool Kit (U.S. Department of Education)

State Laws

• M.G.L Ch. 69: Powers and Duties of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• M.G.L. Ch. 71a: English Language Education in Public Schools

• M.G.L. Ch. 71b: Children with Special Needs

Federal Laws

• Programs for English Language Learners (U.S. Office for Civil Rights)

• Title III FAQs

• Office of Special Education Programs (U.S. Department of Education)

• Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

• The Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA)

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)

State Regulations

• 603 CMR 14.00: Education of English Learners Regulations

• 603 CMR 28.00: Special Education

• 603 CMR 31.00: Massachusetts Certificate of Mastery & State Seal of Biliteracy

Last Updated: September 26, 2023