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Language Proficiency Assessments

Statewide

Specific standardized assessments are used to identify the level and proficiency of ELLs.

District-wide

  • NYSITELL (New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners): The State Education Department mandates that each student entering the district, whose family indicates on the Home Language Survey that another language is spoken at home, must be given the NYSITELL to determine the level of English proficiency (Entering, Emerging, Transitioning, Expanding, Commanding).

  • NYSESLAT (New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test): Each Spring in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) all ELLs statewide are administered the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) to measure their progress toward meeting NYS ENL standards. This test measures a student's proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

  • New York State Content Area Assessments: Assessments in Math, Science and Social Studies are given to students regardless of their ELL status. Students have the option of taking the exam in either English or their native language. Currently, these assessments are available in Spanish, Creole, Korean, and Russian.

  • District-wide Assessments: These assessments are conducted on both a formal and informal basis. All students, regardless of ELL status, are administered district-mandated assessments.

Progress Reports: Twice a year progress reports are sent to parents to inform them about their child's current stage in English language development. The Progress Report identifies a child's stages of oral, reading and writing development.