ESOL services came about out of the Florida META Consent Decree, which addresses the civil rights of English Language Learner (ELL) students – their right to equal access to all education programs. In addressing these rights, the Consent Decree provides a structure that ensures the delivery of comprehensible instruction, which ELLs are entitled to.

Based upon the Florida META Consent Decree, students have a right to be identified and assessed for ELL services; to have equal access to appropriate programming; to have equal access to all programs appropriate to their academic needs; to be taught by an ESOL endorsed teacher; and to receive a two-way word-to-word dictionary.