Intake 

Initial English Language Proficiency Assessment

• • • Initial assessment of new arrivals' English language proficiency are to be completed within the first 30 days.

    • Required by Alberta Education; schools may be audited.

    • Initial assessments must include the following: 

      • • Reading Assessment 

          • • Choice of assessments is at the district's discretion. These are the most commonly used assessments: 

              • Elementary students: Fountas & Pinnell or Reading Readiness Screening Tool (RRST) 

              • Secondary students: Qualitative Reading Inventory (QRI 5)   

        • Alberta Education K-12 ESL Proficiency Benchmarks - www.learnalberta.ca/content/eslapb/

        • Unedited Writing Sample - www.learnalberta.ca/content/eslapb/writing_samples.html

    • Districts to assess oral language and listening skills as well.

    • Parents must be informed if their child is assigned an ELL code (meaning their program may be adapted). Legally, parental permission is not required to code a child.

    • Parent consent is required if their child is being assessed with 'normed' assessments such as the IDEA Proficiency Test (IPT) or the Woodcock Munoz.

    • Schools/districts are required to administer an English Language Proficiency Assessment at least once per year to ELLs, and they are to be accompanied with language learning strategies.

    • Some districts complete an assessment summary form. 

Following the intake process, the ELL's family history, placement recommendation and assessment results should be provided to schools and teachers so they can begin to program effectively for the incoming student.

PLACEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

K - 9 

• • If the school has three Gr 4 classes, which one would be the best fit? Is there a class where there is another ELL?

  • Place in appropriate guided reading level.

  • Is small group pull-out classes an option at your school especially for Level 1 or 2 students?

10-12

• • Are students eligible for high school credits from courses previously taken? 

  • If there is an option, finding a class class where there is already an ELL student. 

  • What is the student's end goal? Do they need 30-1 level courses? Is it realistic? 

Start a documentation file for the student 

• Include the registration document, a copy of the original citizen documentation (e.g. parent work permit, permanent resident form, etc.), and school assessments. 

• If the child has refugee status, submit a copy of the full length form. 

• Make note of their Immigration Coding. 

• Alberta Education K-12 ESL Benchmark Assessment documents and/or Tracking document.

• Determine what documentation goes in the Student Cumulative Record and what does not go in the Cumulative Record. Some districts create a working folder for teachers in September. Any important pieces to preserve from that folder are added to the Cumulative file in June.