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English Language Proficiency Testing English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina:in North Carolina:

A Brief Introduction for New LEP Coordinators

Audrey Martin-McCoy

Education Research & Evaluation Consultant

Accountability Services Division

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction


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English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina

Federal and State PolicyNCLB requires that states provide for an annual

assessment of English language proficiency of all students identified as limited English proficient in the schools served by the state.

This includes assessing English language proficiency in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension in English.

State Board policy mandates that all language-minority students be assessed using the IPT at initial enrollment.


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Federal and State PolicyThe U.S. Office for Civil Rights as well as North

Carolina State Board of Education policy requires that a home (primary) language survey (HLS) be administered to all students upon initial enrollment.

The HLS is used to help determine if the student is an English language-minority student.

Language-minority students who are tested on the state-designated English language proficiency test may be identified as limited English proficient (LEP).


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Federal and State Policy

Students identified as LEP must be assessed annually during the testing window determined by the state.

Federal legislation also mandates that students must be retested annually (spring testing) on all parts of a state's English language proficiency test until full proficiency is reached.


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In North Carolina, this means that a student who does not score Superior (the highest level of English language proficiency) in all four subtests (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) must be retested annually on all parts of the test.

The IDEA® (Individualized Developmental English Activities) English Language Proficiency Test (IPT) is North Carolina’s required assessments to comply with Title III of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation.


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A student who enrolls after January 1 is not retested on the IPT during the same school year for accountability purposes.

Language-minority students entering after the annual testing window must still be initially assessed within thirty (30) calendar days of enrollment.


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Determining if a student is identified as LEP is based solely on IPT test scores.

A student remains LEP identified until he or she scores a proficiency level of Superior on all four subtests of the IPT within the same test administration window.


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Pop Quiz

1. What is the name of the policy that requires states to annually assess LEP students?

2. Which policy (state or federal) mandates that all language minority students be assessed using the IPT at initial enrollment?

3. What is the purpose of the HLS?


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Pop Quiz (continued)

4. Must students identified as LEP be assessed annually?

5. A student enrolls after January 1 and is initially tested on the IPT. Should this student be retested using the annual IPT during the same school year?

6. How long does a student remain LEP identified?


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IPT Grade SpansThere are five grade spans including:

Grade K

Grade Span 1-2

Grade Span 3-5

Grade Span 6-8

Grade Span 9-12


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IPT Subtests

The four IPT subtests include:

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking


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Two forms of the IPT are available Form A is used for initial identification and placement.

Form A is used whenever a new language-minority student enrolls, whether it be the beginning or end of the school year.

Form B is used for annual testing (accountability). The state specifies the window for this test to be administered. The window is typically the first week of February through the third week in March.


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IPT K

Kindergarten students who are identified as English language-minority are tested on the IPT.

The reading & writing test are a combined assessment.

The listening & speaking are a combined assessment.


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IPT Grade 1

Students in grade 1 are administered the IPT K upon their initial enrollment. Therefore, all initially enrolled first graders will take Form A of the IPT K.

Students in grade 1 who are annually tested take Form B of the IPT Grades 1-2 test.


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IPT Grades 2-12

Students in grades 2-12 are administered the grade span designated reading, writing, listening, and speaking subtests.

Students in grades 2-12 take these four subtests upon initial enrollment and during annual testing.


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IPT Grades 2-12

Students who are initially enrolled in grades 2-12 take Form A of the grade span designated test.

Students who are annually tested in grades 2-12 take Form B of the grade span designated test.


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Testing Policy and Procedure Materials

A test administrator manual (examiner’s manual) is available for each Form A and Form B grade span test.

A Processing Guide is also available for the Form A test which outlines processing and scoring procedures.


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Testing Materials

The IPT includes picture books, CDs, word cards, manuals, a processing guide…

In other words, there are LOTS of materials!

Work with your school district test coordinator to familiarize yourself with these materials.


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Local Scoring vs Contractor Scoring

Form A of the IPT is scanned and scored locally.

Parts of Form B are packaged and shipped to a contractor for scoring.


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Test Administrator Training

Individuals who administer the IPT must be trained on the policies and procedures AND the administration of each subtest.

Only employees of the school system are permitted to administer secure state tests, including the IPT.

Contracted tutorial services or agencies are not permitted to administer North Carolina tests.


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Test Administrator Training

Test administration training must occur prior to each test administration cycle.

Test coordinators provide North Carolina specific testing policy and procedure training on the IPT.


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Subtests Training

The state supports the use of on-line subtest training modules on a website hosted by the test publisher.

This website provides training on the reading, writing, listening, and speaking subtests for grades K-12.

This website does not, however, provide specific North Carolina test administration policy and procedure information.


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Subtests Training

North Carolina test administrators in public and charter schools may access the IPT on-line subtest training website at the following:

http://www.ballard-tighe.com/newipttraining

Username: ncuser

Password: nc2k6tm


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IPT TrainingWhile the use of the on-line subtest training modules is

encouraged, you are also encouraged to brainstorm and collaborate with others in your LEA to determine the need for supplemental training.

Work locally to determine the format for the training that will best suit your needs. Collaboration between LEP and testing personnel can foster better communication.


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Questions and Answers