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No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Assessment of English Language Learners

By: Colorín Colorado (2008)

"As our nation grows more diverse, we depend on our schools to ensure that future generations have the knowledge and skills to succeed."

— U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings

Grade Levels: K-12
Subject: Testing

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is the federal education law that covers kindergarten through 12th grade education. The overall goal of NCLB is to have 100% of all students reach state proficiency standards in math and reading by 2014.

As controversial as this law has been, one positive outcome is that ELL student achievement is included specifically in the law, and educational leaders are focusing their efforts on meeting the needs of students who are learning English as a second language. For families of ELLs, NCLB includes provisions for family involvement and communication in a language they understand, especially in regard to informing parents of the kind of ELL support their child will receive.

For teachers, the law means heightened accountability in their practice, and for many it translates into increased pressure to improve test scores. National unions, such as the American Federation of Teachers, have made public statements regarding their recommendations for building more equity and value in the NCLB law, and they continue to advocate for teachers and quality education for all. (See Hot links for more on AFT's public statements.)

Teachers may feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of helping ELLs achieve proficiency on required exams. I will share some general information about NCLB testing and some ideas for assisting ELL students, but since each state has some autonomy in how they implement the law, there may be differences according to the state you live in. I recommend you check with your state education department to see what the requirements are regarding ELL student testing in your state.

What does NCLB say about testing ELLs?

NCLB requires that ELLs in grades 3-8 take the same state academic content assessments as all other students in Reading/Language Arts, Math, and Science. For ELLs, NCLB allows for certain accommodations:

  • one-year testing exemption in Reading/English Language Arts for ELL students new to the country (less than 12 months)
  • the possibility of taking the required exams in their native language
  • the use of appropriate testing accommodations, such as small group administration of the test, extra time, dictionaries, and simplified instructions.

In addition to the required content exams, ELL students must also take an annual English Language Proficiency test to demonstrate English language development in reading, writing, listening, and speaking every year. States are required to have English Language Proficiency standards in place to guide instruction of language development.

What are English Language Proficiency levels?

I am most familiar with Minnesota state English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards, which define English language levels in listening, speaking, reading and writing, so I will share them as an example. The Minnesota ELP test for ELLs is called the Test of Emerging Academic English (TEAE). One section of this test evaluates K-12 ELL students' listening and speaking skills. In the past, this has been done by teachers using a listening/speaking matrix called the MN-SOLOM, but now the state is transitioning to an online test called the Test of Emerging Academic Listening and Speaking (TEALS). This online version will allow students to interact with social and academic language and will provide a speaking sample that can be evaluated.

ELL students in grades 3-12 take a reading and writing assessment in the TEAE. The test for each grade begins at a very basic language level and gradually increases the amount of language and academic content to measure the students' English language abilities. The evaluation rubric for the TEAE and TEALS is from level 1 to level 4 for reading and from level 1 to level 5 for writing. Once an ELL student has achieved a 4 in reading and a 5 in writing, he or she is considered proficient in English and no longer receives ELL services.

How can English Language Proficiency levels help teachers?

If a teacher is familiar with the English level of his/her students, lessons can be differentiated to meet developing language needs within content areas. The new Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) standards provide very good guidance in this area. In addition, a new TESOL standards book has recently been published entitled "PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards," with the standards divided by grade bands: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Each section is broken into categories based on content and language level. For example, math standards for 3rd grade with a beginning-level English speaker recommend that the teacher focus on activities such as pointing to examples of math concepts and introducing basic math vocabulary. Each content area has examples to help guide teachers in their instruction of ELL students.

How can teachers help ELL students prepare for tests when the students have limited English language skills?

Every teacher handles test preparation differently, especially when weighing the cost and benefit of time spent on test preparation vs. language development. However, there are some things that teachers can do (besides offering the accommodations listed above) to assist students in feeling more comfortable and performing their best on the test.

  1. Make sure the ELL students understand the format of the test and the different types of questions (e.g., multiple choice, fill in the missing word, or a constructed response where they must show their work). On the Minnesota writing exam, students are given a test booklet with certain pages marked for their draft writing, and then they are supposed to write their "final" response on designated pages. If students do this incorrectly, they do not receive any points for the writing section. The department of education for each state probably has sample tests available either online or in packets that can be sent to your school. Teachers should familiarize themselves with the different testing requirements and different types of questions in order to introduce the format to students.
  2. Help ELL students recognize that it is okay to skip questions if they find them too difficult and return to them later if they have time. This is a simple strategy, but without this knowledge an ELL student may spend too much time on one question and lose valuable points on questions they could have answered more easily.
  3. Provide instructions or tests in the students' native language if they are available and allowed by the state, and if the native language truly is the student's stronger language. For example, if a student has never had math instruction in his or her native language, it may be easier to take the test in English, the language of instruction. The reverse is also true. If a student has studied a subject in the native language, it will be beneficial to take the test in that language, if it is available. Regardless of the language of instruction, students may benefit from listening to directions in their native language.
  4. Help more advanced ELL students understand the difference between literal and inferential questions. I have seen ELL students scour a reading passage desperately searching for a direct answer to an inference question. Use everyday examples to assist students with the idea of inference. For example, a teacher may respond to a student's question of, "Can we turn the heat down?" by saying, "Oh, I can infer that you think it is too hot in here because you want me to turn the heat down." She challenged the students to look for other ways that messages are inferred and to share them with the class.
  5. Ask students to give evidence for their answers in daily classroom discussions. This gets students into the habit of examining their own thinking and recognizing the need to link ideas to content. This is helpful on a test where they may need to explain why they chose a certain answer. It also can help them in checking their answers before turning in the test.

There are many articles, books and programs on how to help students achieve better on required tests. It is important to recognize that some of these will work well for ELL students, and some will not. Teachers need to know their individual students' language backgrounds and English levels to determine what is most appropriate.

How can teachers and administrators effectively talk to parents and students about the tests?

Again, this depends a lot on the ELL community your school serves. A refugee community in which most residents have had very few opportunities for formal schooling will have different needs than a second-generation bilingual community in which most residents have received a lot of their education in the U.S. The most important thing is not to assume that parents know what you are talking about when you discuss the tests. This is even true for many of my English-speaking friends who have children in the schools. The tests and government requirements change regularly, and the reporting of scores can be confusing.

If an explanation of the administration and scoring of the test is available in a parent's native language, it should be provided, but again, that doesn't mean the parent will definitely understand the explanation. Some languages do not have direct translations for vocabulary related to academic content areas, testing, and accountability. The test scores and the impact they can have on a child's education may not be clear to many parents. In addition to meeting parents at conferences and discussing student performance, it is helpful to have a parent meeting where testing requirements and scoring can be explained in the parents' native language and they have an opportunity to ask questions.

Assure parents that the teachers and administrators at your school are working hard to provide quality instruction for their child, and give specific examples of the kind of support that is available. It is also helpful to highlight the difference between social and academic language because many parents may have the impression that their child is very fluent in English so they won't understand why they didn't perform better on the test. Educators may want to provide parents with a list of academic content words and phrases that they can reinforce with their children while doing homework.

It can be difficult to have a school's success evaluated in part by student test scores, especially when many of the students live in poverty or are learning English. However, teachers have a unique opportunity to assist ELL students in accelerating their academic English and content knowledge, which will lead to dramatic improvement on tests and success in school. While it is difficult to see ELL students worry about taking tests in a language they don't understand and to see schools and districts receive poor ratings because they are responsible for educating large numbers of ELL students, I am glad that ELL students' academic needs are being recognized and their performance is being measured.

When everyone takes on the responsibility of educating students who are learning English as a second language, they are more likely to receive increased support and quality instruction. In this way, we will ensure that future generations have the knowledge and skills to succeed regardless of their language or economic background.

Hot links

  • NCELA: Academic Content Standards & Assessment

    This information from NCELA includes links to resources about academic content instruction, accommodations for ELLs, and professional development.

  • NCELA: ELP Standards & Assessment

    NCELA offers a wide variety of information on English language proficiency standards and assessment at a regional and national level.

  • CAL: ELL Testing & Assessment Resources

    CAL presents a number of projects and resources designed to encourage and foster higher levels of academic achievement among English language learners through its assessment projects.

  • Northwest Regional Comprehensive Center

    The Northwest Regional Comprehensive Center provides training, technical assistance, and research to support states and school districts in the administration and implementation of Title III programs under the No Child Left Behind Act. Here you'll find direct links to materials NWREL has created for teachers, staff, and families; State guidance and regulations; and National clearinghouses for the most up-to-date, useful information to help you serve English Language Learners in your schools and communities.

  • Schools Moving Up: ELL Webcasts

    Schools Moving Up has an archived collection of educational Webcasts and resource materials on topics such as formative assessment, closing the learning gap in California schools, and quality teaching for English-language learners.

  • TESOL: Pre-K-12 English Language Proficiency Standards

    The new PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards, an augmentation of the WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards, provides extensive matrices elucidating sample performance indicators, organized by the five standards (targeting language in social/intercultural interactions, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies) and grade-level cluster. This publication is available for purchase from TESOL.

  • American Federation of Teachers: Get Ready for Spring Testing

    The AFT provides tips on preparing for spring assessments, and strategies for helping students perform their best.

  • American Federation of Teachers: English Language Learners

    The AFT seeks to promote educational excellence and equity for English language learners (ELLs) to ensure they meet the same challenging standards required of all students.

  • AFT Position on English Language Learners: Where We Stand*

    This document outlines the AFT position on the education of English language learners.

  • No Child Left Behind: How to Give it a Passing Grade (December 2005)

    This policy brief from the Brookings Institute, written in 2005, offers a blueprint for maximizing educational improvement and achievement under NCLB.

  • State English Language Proficiency Standards: Wisconsin

    This website from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction includes information on the ACCESS test, translation accommodations, standards, and criteria for reclassification of ELL students.

  • State English Language Proficiency Standards: Texas

    The English language proficiency standards outline English language proficiency level descriptors and student expectations for English language learners (ELLs). The English language proficiency standards are to be published along with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each subject in the required curriculum.

  • State English Language Proficiency Standards: Minnesota

    These standards highlight the English language development goals for English Language Learners (ELLs). They are designed to guide ESL and mainstream classroom teachers in their instruction to ELLs, inform policy makers, and provide a bridge to Minnesota’s content area standards.

  • State English Language Proficiency Standards: California*

    This document presents a summary of the skills California students must master as they move toward full fluency in English.

  • State English Language Proficiency Standards: New York

    The New York State Education Department Office of Bilingual Education has developed these standards, which are meant to serve as the foundation for ESL curriculum, instruction, and assessment for all LEP/ELLs in New York State, grades Pre-K through 12. The NYS ESL learning standards also serve as the framework for the New York State ESL Achievement Test (NYSESLAT), which is administered annually to all LEP/ELLs in New York.

  • Colorín Colorado: Parent Guide to Standardized Testing

  • Education Alliance: Assessment for Diverse Learners

    The Education Alliance at Brown University provides information about assessment for English language learners. The resources are broken into three main topics: initial assessment, ongoing assessment, and high-stakes testing.

  • Assessment in ESL and Bilingual Education: A Hot Topic Paper

    This site, provided by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL), examines various assessment techniques used with ESL and bilingual education students. Another feature of this site is its section on things to look for when selecting an assessment instrument for ESL and bilingual students.

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