Language Proficiency Codes

Accurate coding of ML student information is an essential component for state and federal reporting, ELP testing, and improving MLP programs throughout the state. All MLP PowerSchool coding is due by the district’s 45th day. As student information changes throughout the school year or new students enroll, information should be updated and inputted accordingly. The SCDE PowerSchool and Accountability webpages contain additional resources and information. 

English Proficiency levels identify the score that the student earned on the WIDA assessments with a score range of 1.0-6.0. These levels are entered in PowerSchool based on guidelines defined in the coding matrix. For students with proficiency levels 1.0-6.0, the ‘PL Progression’ must be selected. PL progressions refer to the decimal point score included with ELP assessments. For example, a student who scores an Overall 2.3 on ACCESS for ELLs would be coded an ‘English Proficiency Level (PL)’ of ‘2-Emerging’ and a ‘PL Progression’ of ‘.3.’ 

Students coded as ‘M1-1st Year Monitor,’ ‘M2-2nd Year Monitor,’ ‘M3-3rd Year Monitor,’ or ‘M4-4th Year Monitor’ have previously met the proficiency criteria on the annual ELP assessment. These students are monitored for four (4) years after meeting the reclassification criteria. For students coded as an ‘M1-M4,’ the initialization process in PowerSchool, once completed at the local level, will automatically move the student to the correct coding the following year. For example, if a student is coded an ‘M1-1st Year Monitor’ during the 2021-22 school year, once the district completes the initialization process in PowerSchool during the summer, the student will automatically move to ‘M2-2nd Year Monitor’ for the 2022-23 school year. However, students coded as an ‘M4-4th Year Monitor’ will not automatically move to an ‘8-English Speaker.’ Students coded as an ‘M4-4th Year Monitor’ will need to be manually moved to accurately reflect their coding to an ‘8-English Speaker’ and select the ‘Former ML’ status in most cases or ‘Never ML’ in other cases. 

The coding of ‘AW-Awaiting’ is meant to be a temporary coding status. Reference the matrix for additional details. If a student is coded ‘AW-Awaiting’ for longer than thirty (30) days of enrollment, a validation warning will show in PowerSchool. Although this warning will populate, student data may still be submitted. All MLs are federally required to have their ELP assessed annually and should have proper coding in PowerSchool. 

When a student is coded English proficiency ‘8-English Speaker’ in PowerSchool, ‘Former ML’ or ‘Never ML’ status must be entered. 

Former MLs are those students who were initially identified as MLs needing MLP services but who met proficiency criteria on the state-mandated English proficiency assessment (ELDA before 2015 and ACCESS after 2015). Additionally, these students completed the four-year monitoring period. 

Never MLs are those students who initially met proficiency criteria on the state-mandated English proficiency screener assessment and never received MLP services. These students never completed monitoring periods unless they were tested during the first semester of kindergarten. Students who met the proficiency criteria score on the first-semester kindergarten ELP screener will be coded ‘8- Never ML’ after completing the four-year monitoring period. 

MLPC is the only person on the MLP team who has editing access to enter/modify students' proficiency codes in PowerSchool after enrollment.

Schools' registrars will only enter codes 9 (HLS - ENG only) and AW (HLS - language other than ENG) at registration.