Section 10-17h-3 - Preliminary assessment of dominant language(a)The Preliminary Assessment. On or before February 1, 1978 and each October 1 thereafter, each board of education shall make a preliminary assessment of the dominant language of each child enrolled in the public schools in the district, provided that each child placed in a required program of bilingual education in accordance with section 10-17h-7 as of October 1 in any year shall be considered dominant in a language other than English for purposes of this section. Such assessment shall be made by school.(b)Methods. The board of education shall use one of the following methods in the preliminary assessment of the dominant language of each child who is enrolled in grades kindergarten to three, inclusive:(1) personal contacts with the persons with whom the child lives by individuals who are fluent in the presumed dominant language of the child; or(2) questionnaires which are written in English and in the presumed dominant language of the child to be completed by the persons with whom the child lives. As an alternative to the methods listed in this subsection, the board of education may conduct personal interviews with children who are enrolled in grades 4 to 12, inclusive, to make the preliminary assessment of the child's dominant language. If the board of education is unable to perform a preliminary assessment of a child's dominant language in the manner prescribed in this subsection, the board of education may make such assessment from the student's school records.
(c)Criteria. Each board of education shall use the following three criteria in the preliminary assessment of the dominant language of each child:(1) the language that the child learned to speak first;(2) the primary language spoken by the child's parents, guardians or other persons where the child lives; and(3) the primary language spoken by the child when he or she is at home. For the purpose of the preliminary assessment, the child's dominant language shall be the language which satisfies two or three of the criteria enumerated in this subsection.
Conn. Agencies Regs. § 10-17h-3
Effective November 1, 1977