The Functional Language Assessment (FLA) is a screening test which, when used in combination with teacher ratings and English achievement test scores, helps identify students, aged 5 through 13 from non-English speaking backgrounds, in need of bilingual programs. The language proficiency test can be administered by school staff who do not speak the student's home language. Three reliability studies indicate that the same observed student behavior will receive similar ratings from testers and that students will perform similarly on a test-retest. Factor analysis indicates two factors which remain stable across different populations: the ability to produce oral English and the ability to understand oral English. The test is inexpensive, needs no special equipment or specialized personnel, and can be administered to any child regardless of home background or age. (Author/CTM)