An Update on Assessment Requirements for LEP Students

1
An Update on Assessment Requirements for LEP
Students

• Virginia ESL Supervisors Meeting
• January 30, 2004

2
LEP Assessment Requirements

• Assessment Requirements for LEP students
  according to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
• Participation in Standards of Learning (SOL)
  Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and
  Mathematics
• Participation in an annual assessment of English
  Language Proficiency (ELP)
• Assessment guidelines for LEP students according
  to the Regulations Establishing Standards for
  Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (SOA)

3
NCLB Assessment Requirements for LEP Students

• Academic assessments in mathematics and language
  arts/reading for grades 3 through 8 and
  end-of-course (science by 2007-2008). Sec.
  1111(3)(A)
• Academic assessment of English language
  proficiency for all LEP students measuring
  students oral language, reading, and writing by
  2002-2003. Sec. 1111(b)(7) and Sec.
  3121(d)(1)

4
Inclusion of LEP Students in SOL Assessments for
NCLB
5
Questions

• Are accommodations permitted?
• Yes. The same accommodations that have always
  been permitted for the SOL assessments are
  permitted for LEP students using the ELP test as
  the proxy and the plain English version of the
  mathematics assessment.
• Does that mean that LEP students can have the ELP
  test read aloud to them when they are using the
  ELP test for a proxy for the Reading SOL
  assessment?
• Yes. Under accommodations which are permissible,
  but do not maintain standard conditions reading
  test items in English on the English Reading
  test is permitted.

6
More Questions

• How does a school division make decisions about
  which level 1 and level 2 LEP students should
  use the proxy option?
• The Regulations Establishing Standards for
  Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (SOA)
  state that participation in SOL testing for LEP
  students should be guided by a school-based LEP
  committee.
• 8 VAC 20-131-30 (G)

7
More Questions

• How will the test results of the ELP proxy and
  the plain English mathematics SOL be calculated
  for adequate yearly progress (AYP)?
• A passing score will be determined for each
  test. Those scores will be used for AYP
  calculations.

8
English Language Proficiency Requirement
9
Questions?

• Why has the state changed to the Stanford ELP
  from the ELDA?
• The Virginia Department of Education was notified
  by the Council of Chief State School Officers
  (CCSSO) that the ELDA would not be available for
  implementation in spring 2004.

10
More Questions?

• Who will pay for the Stanford ELP assessment?
• For the 2003-2004 school year, the Virginia
  Department of Education (VDOE) will pay for the
  entire cost of all components of the Stanford ELP
  test for all K-12 LEP students.
• Beginning in 2004-2005, VDOE will pay for only
  the reading component of the state-approved ELP
  instrument for those students using the ELP
  assessment as a reading proxy.

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Which LEP Students take the ELP Assessment?

• LEP students in grades kindergarten through
  twelfth (K-12) who are classified as level 1,
  level 2, level 3, or level 4 according to the
  English Language Proficiency Standards of
  Learning must take the ELP assessment.
• LEP students classified as on monitor status
  year 1 or year 2 only have to take the reading
  and writing components of the ELP assessment.
• Consolidated State Application Submission,
  September 1, 2003, Amended November 24, 2003, p.
  13.

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Stanford ELP Assessment

• Linked to Virginias English Language Proficiency
  Standards of Learning
• Separate forms for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
• Each form contains four components
• listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• the listening, reading, and writing components
  are group administered
• the speaking component is individually
  administered

13
Stanford ELP Administration Training for School
Divisions

• Regional training will be offered throughout the
  state to train division personnel in how to
  administer the Stanford ELP
• Additional information about the training will be
  forthcoming in a Superintendents Memorandum
• The Division Directors of Testing (DDOTs) will be
  responsible for the division coordination of the
  assessment.

14
English Language Development Assessment (ELDA)

• For the 2003-2004 school year, Virginia will
  field test (not census field) the ELDA.
• School divisions will be asked to volunteer to
  participate in the field testing.
• Results of the field test will be used to inform
  future decisions regarding the ELDA for the
  state.

15
SOA Guidelines for Inclusion of LEP Students in
SOL Assessments
16
NCLB and SOA Assessment Comparison
Only available for 3 consecutive years if LEP
student remains a level 1 or level 2.
17
NCLB and SOA Comparison
18
SOA Citation

• Participation in SOL testing by students
  identified as limited English proficient (LEP)
  shall be guided by a school-based committee
  convened to make such determinations. In
  kindergarten through eighth grade, limited
  English proficient students may be granted a
  one-time exemption from SOL testing in each of
  the four core areas.
• 8 VAC 20-131-30

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SOA Citation

• When calculating the passing rates on SOL
  tests for the purpose of school accountability,
  the following tolerances for LEP students and
  transfer students will apply
• LEP student shall have a one-time exemption in
  each of the four core areas for SOL tests
  designed to assess SOL content in kindergarten
  through grade eight.
• LEP students shall not be exempted from
  participating in the SOL end-of-course testing.
• The scores of LEP students enrolled in Virginia
  public schools fewer than 11 semesters may be
  removed from the calculation used for the purpose
  of school accreditation. 8 VAC 20-131-280

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Contact Information

• Shelley Loving-Ryder
• Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and
  Reporting
• Virginia Department of Education
• sryder_at_mail.vak12ed.edu
• [phone]
• Roberta Schlicher
• ESL Coordinator
• Virginia Department of Education
• rschlich_at_mail.vak12ed.edu
• [phone]

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Contact Information

• Lisa Eggleston
• ESL Specialist
• Virginia Department of Education
• legglest_at_mail.vak12ed.edu
• [phone]
• Shannon Bramblett
• Virginia Department of Education
• Migrant Education Specialist
• sbramble_at_mail.vak12ed.edu
• [phone]