|
Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us to assess our language learners in Washington State. We have confirmed that the federal requirement for ELP testing has not been waived this year, and all students who can safely test must be given the opportunity to do so. Your Bilingual Education and Assessment Departments have received clarification on the following questions related to assessment within the challenges of the pandemic.
Does my district need to collect information on why a student did not complete an annual assessment?
No, neither the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) nor the United States Department of Education (USDE) are requiring that districts document the reasons for students not completing an annual assessment. OSPI test data will indicate attempt status but will not capture the reasons a test was not completed. Districts are highly encouraged to keep any such information voluntarily provided by families as further evidence of efforts to extend students the right to testing opportunities.
Are there risks to the individual student who is not provided an assessment?
Yes, under state law and federal guidance, students may only exit EL services by demonstrating proficiency on the ELPA21 Annual Assessment. Students who remain in an EL program for extended periods of time are statistically less likely to reach graduation. This is measurably true at all grade levels of our K-12 system where instruction is only provided in English. Additionally, test scores for bilingual students help us see the need for additional language acquisition and development support. When there is insufficient data, it is challenging to determine the need for additional supports and important interventions that are necessary for academic success.
Must my district document evidence that an opportunity to test was provided to all students who qualify for English language development services?
Yes, this is an important protection for districts. It demonstrates due diligence in attempting to meet the federal requirement to test all students. Best practices for family communications are rooted in the idea of Informed Consent. We can best document that we’ve provided Informed Consent by communicating testing opportunities via written communications, automated notification systems, public-facing announcements, communications via social media, or communications through well-connected community partners. These communications should be made available in the home languages served by your district, and two-way communication opportunities should be provided for all families. Documentation that your district provided an opportunity to test also shows that you have attempted to meet the 100% testing accountability as mandated by the Department of Education.
What does ESSA say about refusing the annual ELP assessment?
ESSA, Sec. 1112 (e) (2) requires that districts inform families of their right to refuse standardized assessments by making that information publicly available. This is challenging because districts are also required to demonstrate the 100% accountability requirement of assessing all state identified English learners. To facilitate both of these requirements, we have drafted the following letter that districts may use to meet these requirements. This letter could be supplied to families in hard copy, electronically, and posted on the district website.
ELPA21 Letter to Families
Where can I find prior guidance issued by Bilingual Education and Assessment about ELP testing this year?
ELPA 21 Annual Assessment Window Update
Shannon Martin – Supporting districts Aberdeen – Issaquah | Bilingual Education Program Supervisor | 360-725-4476
Sue Connolly – Supporting districts Kalama – Pullman | Bilingual Education Program Interim Director | 360-522-0001
Amy Ingram – Supporting districts Puyallup – Zillah | Bilingual Education Program Supervisor | 360-764-6201
Patty Finnegan, PhD – Dual language education support for all districts. | Assistant Director of Dual Language | 360-725-4468
|
