Do English Learner (EL) students need to complete a different lottery application?
No, they do not complete a different application. Public schools do not discriminate based on a student's English proficiency. EL students can apply to any DCPS or public charter school. The My School DC application does not ask any questions about a student's English proficiency level. The My School DC application asks for the guardian’s preferred language so My School DC can better communicate with the guardian; it is not used for a student's placement and does not impact lottery results in any way.
Where can a non-English speaker receive assistance in their language with questions regarding the My School DC application and lottery?
Is the My School DC lottery application available in other languages?
The My School DC application is available in English and Spanish. Application guides are available to download in Amharic, Chinese, Vietnamese, and French. My School DC Hotline staff are equipped with telephonic interpreters to assist families who are not able to communicate in English with completing their application. Call (202) 888-6336 for assistance Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. or email [email protected].
My student speaks a language other than English and does not speak English yet. How will the school help my child learn English?
When you enroll your student in school for the first time, the school will ask you to complete a home language survey. The home language survey is used to determine if your student is eligible to take an English language proficiency screener. The home language survey is not used to determine a family’s immigration or residency status, or assess if the student is an English learner (this is determined by the English language proficiency screener). The screener score determines if the student is identified as an English learner or not an English learner. Students who are identified as English learners have the right to participate in the English language instructional program at school. Federal law requires schools to offer eligible students an English language instructional program so they may attain English language proficiency and achieve academic success. If your student is an English learner, we encourage you to reach out to the schools to which you are interested in applying to learn more about their EL supports. My School DC has included some questions specific to EL students in the “Helpful Questions to Ask Schools” resource. You can also use the School Finder to filter by “dual language / language immersion” to find out which schools offer instruction in both English and a second language (e.g., Spanish, Chinese, French, or Hebrew) which is one approach to providing language assistance to ELs in the District of Columbia.