How Are You Testing Me? LEP Assessment Requirements

1. How Are You Testing Me?LEP Assessment Requirements VATD Conference November 1, 2007 Richmond, Virginia

2. LEP Student Assessment Participation Committee • ESL Teacher • Content Teachers • Administrator or designee • Guidance Counselor, School Testing Coordinator • Parent or Guardian, if possible

3. Testing Decisions for LEP Students • Consider each Limited English Proficiency (LEP) student on an individual basis. • Consider the years of schooling in the United States. • Consider the grade level and the English proficiency level. • Determine participation in each SOL assessment and document.

4. Testing Accommodations for LEP Students • LEP students who require a bilingual dictionary on statewide assessments are allowed to use only a paper dictionary. • The use of electronic dictionaries and translators on statewide assessments are NOT allowed.

5. Testing Accommodations for LEP Students • LEP students must meet the requirement of students with a disability to be eligible for the read-aloud/audio accommodation on the statewide reading assessments. Reference: SUPTS. MEMO NO. 235 - October 27, 2006 • LEP students who do not have a disability are NOT allowed to use the read-aloud/audio accommodation on the statewide reading assessments.

6. LEP Student Participation in the SOL Assessments Document • Documenting LEP Students’ Participation in the SOL Assessments • 2007-2008 SOL Assessment Resource Manual http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/VA0607resource_manual.pdf pp. 100-104 • Currently being revised • Limited English Proficient Students: Guidelines for Participating in the Virginia State Assessment Program http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/LEPStudentsparticipationguidelines.pdf • Currently being revised

7. LEP Student Assessment Participation • All LEP students • Including “Recently Arrived” • Grades 3 through 8 • Those enrolled in high school courses with EOC assessments

8. “Recently Arrived” • An LEP student is considered to be “recently arrived” if he or she has attended school in the United States for less than 12 months. This guideline also applies to students arriving from Puerto Rico. References: SUPTS. MEMO NO. 248, December 1, 2006 Assessment and Accountability for Recently Arrived and Former Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students Non-Regulatory Guidance May 2007 http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/lepguidance.doc

9. Proficiency Levels • There are four levels of English language proficiency (ELP) for LEP students as described in the English Language Proficiency Standards of Learning. • Grades K through 5http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/2002/ELP-StdsK-5.pdf • Grades 6 through 8 http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/2002/ELP-Stds6-8.pdf • Grades 9 through 12 http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/2002/ELP-Stds9-12.pdf

10. Proficiency Levels • Grades K and 2 Levels 1 and 2 • Grade 2 Levels 1, 2, and 3 • Grades 3 through 12 Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4

11. Monitor 1 Status • Students who are on monitor status have demonstrated proficiency on the annual assessment of English language proficiency. • Students move from proficiency level 4 (from level 2 for grades K-1, from level 3 for grade 2) to Monitor 1 status once they demonstrate proficiency on the English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment.

12. Monitor 2 Status • Students who maintain proficiency at the end of their first year on monitor status on the reading and writing portions of the ELP assessment move to Monitor 2 status. • School divisions may use a body of evidence and ELP assessment results to determine monitor status.

13. LEP Student Assessments2007-2008 • ELP Assessment • SOL Assessments • Virginia Grade Level Alternative (VGLA) Reading

14. ELP Assessment Participation • LEP Students at levels 1-4 take all subtests. • LEP Students at levels Monitor 1 and Monitor 2 take reading and writing subtests.

15. ELP Assessment2007-2008 • IPT (Idea Proficiency Test), Ballard & Tighe Publishers • SELP (Stanford English Language Proficiency) Test, Harcourt Educational Measurement • Locally Developed or Selected Assessment • ACCESS for ELLs (WIDA Consortium) • Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State (ACCESS) for English Language Learners (ELLs) • World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA)

16. ACCESS for ELLs • 2007-2008 Pilot Testing • 2008-2009 Approved ELP Assessment for Virginia • Fact Sheet • www.WIDA.us

17. SOL Assessments2007-2008 • Reading • Mathematics • Science • History/Social Science • Writing

18. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Reading • NCLB requires annual testing of reading achievement in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school.

19. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Reading, continued • LEP students who have attended school in the United States for less than 12 months may receive a one-time exemption for the SOL reading test in grades 3 through 8. • There is no exemption for the SOL EOC English: Reading test.

20. SOL Assessments2007-2008 VGLA Reading • LEP students in grades 3 through 8 who are classified as proficiency level 1 or 2 may participate in the VGLA Reading. • LEP students may participate in the VGLA Reading for three consecutive years if they remain at proficiency level 1 or 2.

21. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Mathematics • NCLB requires annual testing of mathematics achievement in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school.

22. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Mathematics, continued • SOL Mathematics tests are available at grades 3 through 8 and EOC. • Plain English Mathematics tests are available for LEP students at proficiency level 1 or 2 who are enrolled in grades 3 through 8 and EOC Algebra I.

23. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Science • NCLB Act of 2001, Section 1111 (b) (3) (C) (v) (II) • Recent non-regulatory guidance issued by USED, May 2007. • All students, including recently arrived LEP students are to take the science test at least once in elementary, middle, and high school. • This requirement takes precedence over the one-time exemption in science available to LEP students the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, 8 VAC 20-131-30.G.

24. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Science, continued • Virginia Requirement • LEP students are to take the science test in Grades 3 or 5, 8, and EOC. • Currently, the resulting science test scores are not included in AYP calculations and are not subject to the same requirements as the reading and mathematics test scores.

25. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Science, continued • Virginia Requirement • Additionally, according to SOA requirements, 8 VAC 20-131-280. D. 1, the scores of LEP students who have been enrolled in Virginia public schools for fewer than 11 semesters will be included in school accreditation ratings only if they pass.

26. SOL Assessments2007-2008 History/Social Science • One-time exemption in grades 3 through 8.

27. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Writing • One-time exemption in grades 5 and 8.

28. SOL Assessments2007-2008 Questions

29. Contact Information Robert Fugate LEP Assessment Specialist Office of Test Administration, Scoring, and Reporting Virginia Department of Education (804) 225-2107 Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov