SOL TESTING

1
SOL TESTING

• Harrisonburg City Public Schools
• Guidelines for Participation
• of LEP Students
• Grades 3-8
• JANUARY 2008

2
Testing Overview

• Two strands of testing are required for all LEP
  (Limited English Proficient) students
• English Proficiency
• SELP (Stanford English Language Proficiency)
  Test
• WIDA Access Test
• Academic Proficiency in Reading Math
• SOL (Standards of Learning) Tests

3
Testing Overview

• English Proficiency Levels are determined based
  on Spring Assessments.
• (SELP, IPT oral test reading assessments)
• Participation in 2008 Spring SOL testing is based
  on the English Proficiency Level from Spring 2007
  assessments.
• Example A student who was Level 2 based on
  Spring 2007 assessments is still considered Level
  2 for Spring 2008 SOL testing regardless of
  progress made 07-08.

4
Scoring Implications

• SOL tests are part of two accountability systems
• State Accreditation
• Federal No Child Left Behind AYP (Adequate
  Yearly Progress)
• LEP students are counted differently in the two
  systems.

5
State Accreditation

• The scores of LEP students who are in their first
  11 semesters in Virginia will count toward the
  school score in each subtest only if counting
  them is a benefit to the school.
• A one time exemption in writing and history is
  allowed in grades 3, 5 8.

6
No Child Left Behind AYP

• The scores of LEP students who are in their first
  year of school in the United States (enrolled on
  or after the first day of school this school
  year) do not count towards AYP.
• All students must be tested in reading and math.
  There are no exemptions.

7
Reading/English SOL Test

• Level 1 2 LEP students may use the VGLA
  (Virginia Grade Level Assessment) for the SOL
  reading subtest.
• Level 3 4 LEP students must take the SOL
  reading subtest.

8
Mathematics SOL Test

• Level 1 2 LEP students may use the Plain
  English Form of the Mathematics SOL test.
• All accommodations available for LEP students on
  the regular SOL tests are also available on the
  Plain English Form.
• Level 3 4 LEP students must take the regular
  form of the SOL mathematics subtest.

9
Writing, Science History SOL Tests

• A one time exemption in grades 3, 5 8 is
  allowed for each of the writing and history
  subtests.
• Exemptions for individual students should be
  determined with the guidance of the school
  administrator ESL specialist.

10
Accommodations - Options

• Timing/Scheduling breaks during test
• Setting small group or minimal distractions
• Presentation
• Assistance with directions
• Reading of test items in English
• (except for the Reading Test)
• Place markers
• Marking of answers in test booklet
• Use of bilingual dictionary

11
Accommodations - Decisions

• Accommodations for the SOL assessments should be
  selected from those the LEP student uses
  routinely in classroom instruction and
  assessment.
• Use of an unfamiliar accommodation may have a
  negative impact on student performance.
• The purpose of accommodations is to ensure LEP
  students equal opportunity to demonstrate what
  they know and can do.

12
Accommodations SPED/ESL

• Accommodations for LEP students who have an IEP
  will be determined by the IEP.
• Special Education teachers will be responsible
  for the documentation of the accommodations.
• The ESL teachers will need to send home the
  parent notification letter for LEP/SPED students.

13
Procedure Grade Level Meetings (Grades 3-5)

• Laura FM will meet with the 3rd, 4th and 5th
  grade level teams at each school to give an
  overview of the process for determining
  accommodations.
• ESL teachers should also attend these meetings if
  possible.

14
Procedure Committee Conversations

• Following the grade level meetings, individual
  conferences will then be scheduled with each
  classroom teacher to determine the specific
  accommodations needed for each student for each
  test.
• ESL teachers an administrative representative
  should also attend these meetings if possible.

15
Procedure - Documentation

• ESL teachers are responsible for completing all
  necessary documentation.
• Laura F.M. will meet with ESL team at each school
  to go over details of the forms.
• Forms guidelines are available on the ESL
  website under Teacher Resources

16
Procedure Parent Notification

• Letters to the parents of 5th graders need to go
  home by the end of February (before the writing
  test is given).
• Letters to the parents of 3rd 4th graders need
  to go home by the end of March.
• Notification of SELP or WIDA Access testing will
  be included in the letters.