ESOL Testing and Policies

Here is a general overview of the testing requirements and accommodations available for English Language Learners in our district:

LAS Links

The LAS Links English Proficiency Assessment is given once per year in January and February. This assessment is used to document a student's English proficiency and to help determine if the student is eligible to exit ESOL. LAS Links assesses reading, writing, speaking and listening and has five levels of proficiency. The student receives a score in each of the four domains, some combined scores, and an overall score. If the overall score, the reading score and the writing score is level four or five, a student is eligible for ESOL exit.

Test of Narrative Retell

The ESOL department uses an oral assessment of story retelling skills called the Test of Narrative Retell for ESOL students in grades K through two. We use this assessment three times per year and scoring is based on which story elements and transition words are included, and how much detail is provided by the student. Please ask me if you would like more information about this assessment.

Universal AIMSWEB Screens and Other District Assessments

English Language Learners who are newcomers may be exempt from district reading/writing assessments for the first 12 months they are here, if they have never received instruction in English before. If appropriate, we may choose to have some newcomers take these assessments with modifications or accommodations. One typical modification is to use an off-grade level AIMSWEB screen. Note that accommodations should be used regularly in the classroom for daily work and district assessments if they are to be used on an SBAC assessment. Please talk with me about individualizing the assessment regime of your ELL student if you feel it is needed.