English Language Learners ( ELL )

Overview, Use and
Importance of NYSESLAT
Presenters:
Ileana Olazagasti and Vanessa Lee Mercado
Office of State Assessment
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Who is a Limited English
Proficient (LEP) Student?
2
The myths ……
… there is no clear State definition ...
who knows?
 … there are only a few LEPs.
 … they are all Spanish speakers.
 … they all live in New York City.

3
Fact: Key to Services Begins with
Appropriate Identification …
Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) A student from a home where a
language other than English is spoken
and speaks little or no English …. (CR
Part 154)
 Informal Interview (English/NL)
 Assessment (LAB-R/NYSESLAT)

4
Fact: LEPs are at all grade levels.
Participation on 2007 NYSESLAT
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
Totals
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Totals
Gr K-1
Gr 2-4
Gr 5-6
Gr 7-8
Gr 9-12
50,521
57,657
25,089
22,916
35,822
5
Fact: Top Languages Spoken by
New York State LEP Students
Language
Spanish
Chinese
Arabic
Bengali
Russian
Urdu
Haitian-Creole
Totals
119,383
4980
4296
4014
3348
3211
3188
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2007 NYSESLAT
Public School Distribution
Distribution
Number
Percent
New York City
133,947
69.8
Rest of State
58,058
30.2
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Testing of LEP students

NCLB requires that the English proficiency
of all LEP students (as defined in Education
Law § 3204[2-a][3]) be determined annually.

New York State provides the NYSESLAT
as the assessment of English language
proficiency for LEP students.
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Testing of LEP Students

All LEP students, regardless of grade, must
take the NYSESLAT.

LEP students must take this assessment to
evaluate English proficiency even if they take a
grades 3-8 ELA assessment, the Regents
Comprehensive Examination in English or, for
certain LEP students with disabilities, an RCT in
reading or writing or the NYSAA in ELA in the
2007-2008 academic year.
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2007 NYSESLAT
The NYSESLAT operational test was
administered in Spring 2007 to 192,005
public school and 14,842 nonpublic LEP
students across New York State.
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Understanding the Process
Design test specifications-”test blueprint”.
 Solicit and train item writers.
 Passage Review: select passages for the
field test items.
 Item Review Committee: review and edit
submitted items.
 Field Test forms; scan field test; score
items.

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Understanding the Process
(continued)

Range Finding: select anchor and training
set papers.
 Perform item and test analysis.
 Select items for the operational form of the
test.
 Standard Setting Study: determine student
performance levels through standard
setting study- “cut scores”.
12
Update on the Administration of
the 2008 NYSESLAT
Important Dates
Test Activity
Target Dates
Schools order tests via Spectrum Online Ordering
System
January-March
Spring 2008 Field Testing-Speaking, Listening,
Reading and writing (Selected schools will be
contacted directly by Harcourt)
March 27-April 4
Operational Speaking Administration
April 14-May 16
Operational Listening, Reading and Writing
Administration
Scoring of Constructed Responses
May 5-May 16
May 19-30
Return booklets to Harcourt Assessment Inc.
June 6
Scores Available to Schools (approx.)
August
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Recruitment
It is very important to NYSED that we develop fair and
valid tests for the NYSESLAT Testing Program on an
annual basis. Therefore, we are requesting certified NYS
bilingual, ESL, and ELA teachers that are interested in
participating as a committee member to complete and
submit a Teacher Recruitment Form.
The form can be found online at:
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/nyseslat/recruitment.htm
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For More Information and Updates
about the NYSESLAT go to:
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/nyseslat/home.shtml
All test related questions can be sent to:
[email protected]
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