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 Home Language Survey


Since 2015, Section 3111(b)(2)(A) of ESEA/ESSA's Title III statute requires states to establish uniform statewide entrance and exit procedures for the identification of English learners (ELs) The first step in this process is to identify potential ELs for English language proficiency (ELP) screening. For this purpose, Georgia provides a required Home Language Survey (HLS) in 20 language versions for school systems to use during enrollment processes. Parents' responses on the HLS indicate whether the student is a potential English learner who must be administered the ELP screener.

The Home Language Survey questions include three student "language-related" questions as recommended by Bailey and Kelly (2013), and parent-friendly explanations. Please note that parents must first indicate their preferred language for school communication. Parents' preferred language is not used to identify the student's primary or home language. In addition to the three HLS questions used to identify the student's primary language, all multilingual families (reporting more than one home language) are asked to clarify their child's level of English proficiency by choosing one of five short statements.

In January 2023, GaDOE provided school systems with an updated HLS. This updated HLS is optional in 2023 and required in 2024. The updated GaDOE HLS retains the same three HLS questions used in Georgia since 2017 and adds an additional information section that only parents who report a multilingual home environment must complete.

Home Language Surveys​​​ (English) and Educator Decision-Making Guide and FAQs

Current HLS (English) Discontinue: January 2024

Updated HLS (English)​​​ Required: January 2024 | Optional: January 2023-December 2023

Updated Home Language Survey Translations

Required: January 2024 | Optional: January 2023-December 2023​

Updated HLS Element Translations 

​Amharic HLS

Arabic HLS

Bengali HLS

Burmese HLS

Dari HLS

Farsi HLS

French HLS

German HLS

Gujarati HLS

Haitian Creole HLS

Hindi HLS

Japanese HLS

Korean HLS

Portuguese HLS

Russian HLS

Simplified Chinese HLS

Spanish HLS

Swahili HLS

Urdu HLS

Vietnamese HLS

​​Current Home Language Survey Translations ​ 

​​(Discontinue in January 2024)

​Arabic HLS

French HLS

German HLS

Gujarati HLS

Haitian Creole HLS

Hindi HLS (district provided)

Hmong HLS

Japanese HLS

Korean HLS

Lao HLS

Portuguese HLS

Russian HLS

Spanish HLS

Traditional Chinese HLS

Urdu HLS

Vietnamese HLS