Who Is a Limited English Proficient (LEP) Individual?

Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English can be limited English proficient, or LEP.  

What is the LEP Four Factor Analysis?

Effective June 12, 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) adopted its final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons, under Executive Order 13166, and replaced its existing guidance on the same subject originally published at 66 FR 3834 (January 16, 2001). 

Contained within the Guidance, the DOJ formulated a four factor analysis to assist agencies in determining the level of service necessary in providing meaningful access to the agency's programs and services where language could pose a barrier.

The resources below are provided to assist agencies in determining Factor #1 - the number or proportion of LEP persons eligible to be served or likely to be encountered by the program, grantee or recipient.  DOJ has also made its self-assessment tool available on-line through their web site.

Agencies should note that there are multiple factors in determining the number or proportion of LEP individuals within a service community.  Most significantly, the agency's own experience with LEP populations (Factor #2) and the experience of other entities/agencies within the same service community should be considered and evaluated. 

Interactive Maps:

• U.S. Census - Michigan County Selection Map - Census 2000 data creates community profiles by county using user selected criteria

• Library of Michigan Demographic Data by County Map - Census 2000 data creates community profiles by county with all available Census data

• Modern Language Association (MLA) resource map - Use one of the search forms to research the number, ages, and percentage of speakers of each language in a particular geographic region or municiple zone

• Institute for Education Sciences - U.S. Department of Education maps of school districts with geographic and demographic data useful for describing and analyzing characteristics of school districts, children, and K-12 education.

Reports:

• CEPI 2006-07 LEP Data Report - Compiled for this project, the report details the languages reported by Michigan's school districts (Microsoft Excel .xls file).  Use this data to extrapolate non-English speakers within the community

• Census Atlas of the United States - Chapter 8 - Language - A 14 page report with maps of the language patterns of people aged 5 and older prepared by the U.S. Census.  (Large file 10.53 MB).

• American Community Survey home page for ACS from the U.S. Census - users can generate community reports

• Michigan's Center for Educational Performance & Information (CEPI) - CEPI collects and reports data about the performance of Michigan’s K-12 public schools and students. The link is to the CEPI Data & Reports page

• Michigan Department of Education - English Language Proficiency Assessment - the language competencies English as a Second Language (ESL) students need to become fully proficient in English and to have unrestricted access to grade appropriate instruction in challenging academic subjects

• LEP.gov - Federal resources from The Federal Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency

• LEP Self-Assessment Tool - provided by U.S. Department of Justice (.pdf file format)

Reference and Referral Sites:

• LEP.gov - The Federal Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency's mission is to build awareness of the need and methods to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to important federal and federally assisted programs, and to ensure implementation of language access requirements under Title VI, the Title VI regulations, and Executive Order 13166 in a consistent and effective manner across agencies.

• MiTiN - an organization of translators, interpreters, agencies, and language professionals in Michigan.  Formed in 1991, MiTiN members number over 130 and represent over 34 languages.  MiTiN became a chapter of American Translators Association (ATA) in 2004.  Click here to find Translators/Interpreters who are professional members of MiTiN 

• The National Language Access Advocates Network (N-LAAN)  is a national organization that supports and engages in effective advocacy to eradicate language discrimination and promote language rights. N-LAAN provides a forum for language access advocates to develop expertise, share resources and devise strategy. It serves as a voice for its members in advocating for better policies and laws and for more effective enforcement of language rights.

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