MODULE 3 – Topic 305

Toolkit for Learners who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

Module 3: Assessing and Monitoring Student Progress

Culturally Sensitive Procedures

The Progress Monitoring Team Must . . .

• Use measures free of linguistic and racial bias

• Ensure concerns are not due to lack of English proficiency

• Use validated tests that measure what they say they are measuring

Therefore…

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Factors that Impact ELLs’ Assessment Results

• Bias inherent in the test• Mismatch between the language/culture of the

examiner and that of student• Student experience with testing practices and

exposure to the materials being tested• Student ability to comprehend test instructions

and the materials tested due to limited proficiency in English

• How the results are interpretedAlso see Handout

305a for more details about the factors

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Procedures to Follow in EvaluationEach public agency must ensure that tests and other

evaluation materials used to assess a child:

• do not discriminate on racial/cultural basis

• are provided and administered in the child’s native language or other mode of communication unless it is clearly not feasible to do so

• are selected and administered to ensure that they measure the extent to which an LEP child has learning difficulties rather than measuring the child’s English language skills

Reference: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

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6 Issues to Consider in ELL Assessment

1. Use of multiple assessment measures

2. The sensitivity of assessments to how students learn

3. Degree to which accommodations/ modifications are based on student need

4. Instrument bias and stereotypes

5. How and when the strategies for assessment are reviewed and updated

6. Degree to which assessment results are used for improving instruction

Also see Handout

305b

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Progress Monitoring through RtI• When evaluating an ELL’s response to

intervention, the following should be considered:– Compare to similar peers

(same culture, near same age, similar history in American schools)

– Graphs of acquisition rate and academic performance

– Compare performance to peers receiving the SAME instruction.

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ELL Performance Example

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Peer Comparison #1

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Peer Comparison #2

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Peer Comparison #3

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What’s next?

• What conclusions can be drawn based upon the performance of Maria compared to the performance of her peers?

• Are these significant data which can be used to inform future interventions and resistance to prior interventions?

• How would you proceed??

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A key to the unbiased assessment of ELLs is to look beyond communication in social settings to examine educational history,

measure language proficiency/use, observe behavior, interview parents, adapt testing

conditions as appropriate, and be aware of what instruments actually are measuring.

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