It is absolutely essential that speech language pathologists accurately assess and account for linguistic diversity when making eligibility decisions in order to ensure that students' civil rights are not violated by mistakenly stating that a student has a handicapping condition because they come from a dialectal background. The Guidance Document proposed by the VDOE will support school-based speech language pathologists in making accurate clinical decisions that reduce the over-representation in Special Education services of students who come from linguistically diverse backgrounds. Students who have language differences, not disorders, are appropriately served through supplemental services that are delivered through general education rather than declaring that the student has a handicapping condition in order to receive special education services. The proposed document establishes critically necessary guidance for speech-language pathologists who serve students throughout the Commonwealth of Virgina