Haitian Creole Bilingual Evaluations

Understanding the student across languages.

Haitian Creole in U.S. Education

31,000+

Haitian/Haitian Creole-speaking K–12 English learners reported in states where the language ranked among the five most common.

U.S. Department of Education · 2022–23 data

Beyond the test score.

For Haitian Creole-speaking students, language proficiency and educational history provide essential context for interpreting assessment results and informing educational decisions.

Educational Context

Educational experiences across languages.

Smiling student wearing a light blue polo shirt and navy backpack

  • A student may communicate primarily in Haitian Creole at home while receiving classroom instruction in French or English.

  • Educational experiences may span schools in Haiti, the United States, or both, with different curricula and academic expectations.

  • Oral language, reading, and writing skills may develop differently across Haitian Creole, French, and English.

  • School transitions, instructional opportunities, and prior literacy experiences can influence how students engage with new learning.

Educational History

We review school records, prior evaluations, interventions, and academic progress to understand the student's educational history.

Language Background

We review language acquisition assessments and English language proficiency results alongside Haitian Creole language use and the student's language of instruction.

Assessment

We select assessment measures based on the student's background and referral concerns. Cognitive, academic, social-emotional, behavioral, adaptive, and developmental areas are assessed as appropriate.

Observation

We observe behavior, communication, and task engagement during testing. Classroom observations are included when appropriate.

Interpretation & Recommendations

We consider assessment results, educational records, observations, and parent and teacher input to identify educational needs and inform recommendations.

Comprehensive Evaluation

Our Approach.

Each Haitian Creole–English evaluation is guided by the referral concerns, educational history, and language background of the student.

Smiling student wearing glasses and raising her finger

Haitian Creole Bilingual Evaluations

When to consider a bilingual evaluation.

When a disability is suspected, a student's language and educational history are important to understanding their learning needs.

Learning concerns

Academic or developmental difficulties raise questions about a possible disability.

Concerns across settings

Learning or behavior concerns are reported differently at home and at school.

Unanswered questions

Previous testing did not fully consider language background or educational history.

English-language acquisition alone does not indicate a disability.

Haitian Creole Bilingual Evaluations

Let's discuss your district's evaluation needs.

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