currently, there are no standardized guidelines for the process of diagnosing english language learners (ell) with specific learning disabilities (sld). this is a problem since many students will fall through the cracks as educators are unable to clearly assess if a student's delay is due to a language barrier or true learning disability. with an unclear diagnosis, many students will suffer because they will not be provided with the tools they need to succeed in the public education school system. for example, in many occasions teachers have suggested retention or have taken no action at all when they lack experience working with english language learners. students were commonly pushed toward testing, based on an assumption that their poor academic performance or behavioral difficulties indicated a need for special education. linguistically responsive psychologist understand that second language acquisition is a process and they understand how to support ells' growth in language and academically. when ells are referred for a psychoeducational assessment, it is difficult to isolate and disentangle what are the effects of the language acquisition process, from poor quality educational services, from what may be academic difficulties that result from processing disorders, attention problems, and learning disabilities. additionally not having trained staff and faculty becomes more of an issue when staff is unaware of numerous types of psychological factors that immigrant children in the u.s dealing could be potentially dealing with. these factors that include acculturation, fear and/or worry of deportation, separation from social supports such as parents, language barriers, disruptions in learning experiences, stigmatization, economic challenge, and risk factors associated with poverty. in the united states, there are no set policies mandating that all districts employ bilingual school psychologist, nor are schools equipped with specific tools and resources to assist immigrant children and families. many school districts do not have the proper personnel that is able to communicate with this population.