Beginning in 2017-2018, Title III law under the ESSA requires uniform statewide entrance and exit procedures for ESOL programs. This necessitates the use of a universal, state-required Home Language Survey (HLS). Federal guidance for this survey has been released and the translations provided by the Georgia Department of Education adhere to that guidance, namely by providing a clear statement of the form's purpose to parents/guardians and including three specific "language-related" questions as recommended by Bailey and Kelly (2012).
Please note that the parent-preferred-language-for-school-communication question at the bottom of the HLS forms IS NOT one of the three (3) required Home Language Survey questions, but rather a data collection question (starting in School Year 2019-2020) to support school and district leaders’ understanding of the languages represented in the LEA and guide in the development parent-school communication plans that ensure all parents understand school communications.
2018 - 2019 Versions
2019 - 2020 Versions
Generic Sample HLS