ESOL Testing and Policies
English Language Learners may have different combinations of assessments than their classmates, especially if they are newcomers. There is flexibility for some assessments; please ask me if you have questions or would like to modify based on an individual need. Also, please contact me if you have a student who is not on my caseload but may be struggling due to second language issues.
The Five Intangible
(Un-test-able)
Senses:
Sense of Curiosity
Sense of Wonder
Sense of Imagination
Sense of Adventure
Sense of Respect
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.
SBAC
English Language Learners in grades three through five take the math and English language arts Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium tests, even if they are newcomers.
School districts may make some accommodations for English Language Learners. Accommodations should be used regularly in the classroom for daily work and district assessments if they are to be used on an SBAC assessment. Most commonly, the accommodation will be having the test and item directions read aloud in English. Newcomers may have directions (not test items) read aloud in their home language.
We may also give ELL students word-to-word dictionaries for the grade five science test, and computerized tests have pop-up glossaries for several common languages.
Another accommodation that can be helpful is to have the ELL student take the test in a small group, which can help students who are easily distracted or perform better in a familiar setting such as the ESOL room.
The SBAC tests do not have a time limit so extra time is available to all students. I have had success with giving my ELL students extra time with the test before they take it with their regular class. That way they get a head start on the test and can finish with their class.
I also recommend having ELLs go through the entire practice SBAC test with me before taking the real test, so they become familiar with the format and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Supporting Laws and Policies
CT’s Bilingual/ESL Education Law:
https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/English-Learners/English-Learners/Regulations
West Hartford Public Schools’ Limited English Proficiency Policy, including references to relevant legislation (scroll to 6232):
"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” Pablo Casals