An Introduction to the English Language Proficiency Assessment

1. An Introduction to theEnglish Language Proficiency Assessment Brian Ciloski, Analyst Assessment of English Language Learners

2. Who is an English language learner (ELL)? A student who is an ELL is also known as Limited English Proficient (LEP) in some states and laws. Meeting Federal Requirements

3. Do all ELLs come from other countries? Many others are children or grandchildren of immigrants. Over 70 percent of ELLs are born here in the United States. Meeting Federal Requirements

4. How can we identify students as English language learners? A Home Language Survey is provided to all new students enrolling in school (Title VI requirement). Meeting Federal Requirements

5. Meeting Federal Requirements

6. Meeting Federal Requirements What are the Home Language Survey Questions? • Is your child’s native tongue a language other than English? • Is the primary language used in your child’s home or environment a language other than English?

7. Meeting Federal Requirements If the answer to either question on the Home Language Survey is “YES”, proceed with assessing the students eligibility for ELL services using the ELPA Initial Screening, and other identified criteria such as district policy, teacher/student interviews, etc.

8. Meeting Federal Requirements What is the ELPA Initial Screening? The ELPA Initial Screening is a short, ELP standards-based assessment. The results show strengths and weaknesses by domain and include overall performance levels that are linked with the Spring ELPA.

9. Meeting Federal Requirements How is the ELPA Initial Screening used? • Diagnostic tool for English acquisition • Identification of ELLs for Title III purposes

10. ELPA Initial Screening What is the ELPA Initial Screening administration schedule? • Two assessment cycles: Leaf Cycle August 15 to November 30 Snowflake Cycle December 1 to August 14 (except during Spring ELPA cycle)

11. ELPA Initial Screening • During the LEAF Cycle, the ELPA Initial Screening is designed to match content taught during the previous school year. • During the SNOWFLAKE Cycle, the ELPA Initial Screening is designed to match content taught so far that year. • Please be careful to administer the following levels to students of these grades:

12. ELPA Initial Screening

13. Meeting Federal Requirements How do we order an ELPA Initial Screening for a new student? Obtain an order form on the public ELPA website at: www.michigan.gov/elpa

14. Meeting Federal Requirements How is the ELPA Initial Screening scored? The ELPA Initial Screening is scored at the time of administration. Student information and raw scores are entered onto the OEAA secure website by the district. www.michigan.gov/oeaa-secure

15. Meeting Federal Requirements What types of reports are available for the ELPA Initial Screening? An individual report and class/group list is immediately downloadable.

16. ELPA Initial Screening Sample ELPA Initial Screening Individual Student Report

17. ELPA Initial Screening Sample ELPA Initial Screening Class Roster Report

18. Meeting Federal Requirements How do we notify the State that we have an ELL who is eligible for services? Entering ELPA screener information on the OEAA Secure Site identifies the student for Title III count. Also entering appropriate data into MSDS fields for each count date.

19. Meeting Federal Requirements What are the next steps? • Parents or guardians of the student are contacted regarding instructional recommendations.

20. Meeting Federal Requirements How are instructional recommendations determined? • Input from parents/guardians • Student language background • Bilingual or ESL resources

21. Meeting Federal Requirements How do we obtain resources for LEP instruction? • ISDs and Title III Consortia • State Title III services • Organizations such as MITESOL and MABE

22. Meeting Federal Requirements How do we monitor progress? • Provide classroom assessments • Analyze results of school, district, and state assessments. • MEAP • Annual Spring ELPA

23. Who takes the Spring ELPA? The Spring ELPA is to be given to all Michigan students who are enrolled in grades K-12 and are eligible for Limited English Proficient (LEP) services. All public and charter schools are included, along with private schools (depending on LEA agreements). Meeting Federal Requirements

24. Preparing for the Spring ELPA How do we obtain Spring ELPA materials? Material are ordered through the OEAA Secure Site. The OEAA performs a preliminary identification ELLs during the Pre-ID window; students who Pre-ID will receive labels with their initial material order.

25. Accommodations for ELLs How do we determine if an ELL—who is also a student with a disability (SWD)—needs an accommodation for ELPA? • Use of an accommodation is based on documentation in school record.

26. Accommodations for ELLs How do we determine if an ELL needs an accommodation for MEAP, MI-Access or MME? • Assessment accommodations are based on ELL performance levels and language of instruction for the content area being assessed. • Decisions are to be made on student-by-student basis.

27. Accommodations for ELLs How do we determine if an ELL needs an accommodation for MEAP, MI-Access or MME? MEAP accommodations marked as standard result in scores that are reportable for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and EducationYES!

28. Accommodations for ELLs Where can we locate accommodation lists for ELPA, MEAP, MI-Access and MME? Review the Assessment Accommodation Summary Table that is located on the ELPA website. (www.michigan.gov/elpa)

29. Accommodations: Other Tests Can ELLs be excused from these assessments? • All ELLs are to be assessed with content-based tests. The only exception involves “recently arrived” students.

30. “Recently Arrived” ELLs Who are “recently arrived” students? • These are ELLs who have enrolled in a U.S. Public School for 12 months or less. • The date of entry is drawn from sections 8 and 10 on ELPA demographic pages.

31. ELPA Initial Screening Sample Demographic Page

32. “Recently Arrived” ELLs Who are “recently arrived” students? • Students meeting this criterion may be “excused” from taking the ELA portions of content-based tests provided that ELPA has been administered. • This is a one-time exemption. “Excused” students are reported as a sub-category for AYP.

33. Remember All students enrolled in grades K-12 who are eligible for LEP services MUST be assessed annually using the Spring ELPA .

34. Assessment Dates for ELLs ELPA Initial Screening Administration Ongoing--administer at time student arrives in your district Leaf Cycle: Aug 15 to Nov 30 Snowflake Cycle: Dec 1 to Aug 14

35. Assessment Dates for ELLs Pre-ID Window December 6 through January 11, 2011 ELPA Spring 2011 Administration March 7 through April 15, 2011 Tested Roster May 16 through May 20, 2011 Return and Reporting Cycles Early June, 2011 See the full Spring ELPA Assessment Calendar at www.michigan.gov/elpa

36. Assessment Dates for ELLs Tested Roster Don’t forget that after the assessment administration has ended to review the Tested Roster Information to ensure that it is correct.

37. Assessment Resources for ELLs Assessment questions about ELLs? • Call 877-560-8378 or e-mail oeaa@michigan.gov for general assistance or help with the OEAA secure website.

38. Comments and Suggestions Contact Information: Brian Ciloski, Analyst Assessment of English Language Learners CiloskiB@michigan.gov (517) 335-6732