In 1979, Rhode Island legislators mandated an assessment of the number of non English speaking children in the State. The resulting study was comprised of two main phases. The first, a census of non English speaking students, included (1) a teacher survey, in which every teacher listed his/her students and indicated an observed primary language for each student; and (2) the collection of language information for every student on a home language survey form. The second phase of the assessment process sought information procedures for estimating potential costs of meeting the instructional needs of non English speaking children. This phase included (1) the determination of a procedure for estimating the number of students eligible for bilingual services; and (2) the collection of information from other States and communities regarding factors that must be considered in estimating program costs. This report contains a detailed description of the assessment methods and process employed, as well as the statistical results of the investigation. The non English speaking student population (whose five largest groups are Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, and Cape Verde Creole speakers) is described by age level and school district. Cost estimates for bilingual program development are also discussed at length. (Author/GC)