Limited English Proficient (LEP) Caucus Presentation Virginia School Boards Association November 2009.

Limited English Proficient (LEP) Limited English Proficient (LEP) Caucus PresentationCaucus Presentation

Virginia School Boards AssociationVirginia School Boards AssociationNovember 2009November 2009

The LEP Caucus includes school board members and The LEP Caucus includes school board members and staff from school districts:staff from school districts:

• that have a large Limited English Proficient (LEP) that have a large Limited English Proficient (LEP) student population, orstudent population, or

• an increasing LEP student population, or an increasing LEP student population, or

• who are simply interested in issues concerning the who are simply interested in issues concerning the impact of LEP students on a school district.  impact of LEP students on a school district. 

LEP CaucusLEP Caucus

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10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

• Total LEP enrollment for 1993 = 17,594 • Total LEP enrollment for 2008 = 87,026

LEP Data: Enrollment in VirginiaLEP Data: Enrollment in Virginia

Data from VDOE ESL Web Page – November 2009

Urdu3%

Other23%

Vietnamese4%

Arabic4%

Korean4%

Spanish62%

LEP Data: Languages in VirginiaLEP Data: Languages in VirginiaTop 5 Shown Below – 207 TotalTop 5 Shown Below – 207 Total

Data from VDOE ESL Web Page – November 2009

Many LEP students are born in the USA, for example, Many LEP students are born in the USA, for example, in Arlington in Arlington 53.5% of all APS LEP students are born in the United States. (APS Survey of Limited English Proficient Students for 2008-2009)

LEP students affect us in several ways: LEP students affect us in several ways: • They bring a wonderful diversity to our schools.They bring a wonderful diversity to our schools.• They help prepare everyone for a global economy.They help prepare everyone for a global economy.• They also bring added costs and, especially, testing They also bring added costs and, especially, testing requirements because of NCLB.requirements because of NCLB.

But, Who Are Our LEP Students?But, Who Are Our LEP Students?

The Arlington Latino Network The Arlington Latino Network (ALN), in collaboration with (ALN), in collaboration with Arlington Public Schools (APS), Arlington Public Schools (APS), sponsored its first Latino sponsored its first Latino Education Summit on October 22. Education Summit on October 22. The summit brought together the The summit brought together the Latino community with leadership Latino community with leadership from APS and the broader from APS and the broader community to forge an enduring community to forge an enduring partnership for improving the partnership for improving the academic achievement of Latino academic achievement of Latino students. These testimonials were students. These testimonials were a powerful part of the Summit.a powerful part of the Summit.

Latino Education SummitLatino Education SummitStudent TestimonialsStudent Testimonials

http://www.apsva.us/15401081151356423/lib/15401081151356423/AETV_Media/voces.wmv

NCLB Assessment RequirementsNCLB requires two types of assessments for LEP students, while other students only take one:

1. Grade level reading and mathematics tests for all students, these tests are either the SOLs or the VGLA, Virginia Grade Level Assessment (Adequate Yearly Progress – AYP)

2. Yearly assessments of LEP students in oral language, listening, reading, and writing to document English language proficiency (Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives – AMAO)

Note: 95% of students must participate in the annual tests for reading and mathematics.

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Levels 1-52 Levels 1-52

Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs)

English Language Proficiency

Assessment (Grades K-12)

Levels 3-5

NCLB Assessments2009-2010

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

SOLs – Reading1and Math(Grades 3-8)

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ACCESS for ELLs Levels 1-33

1. Students who have been enrolled in a U.S. school for less than 12 months receive a one-time exemption from the Reading SOL.2. WIDA/ELP Levels as described in Superintendent’s Memorandum #136-09.3. Level 3 students may be eligible for VGLA and PEM depending on their ACCESS for ELLs score.4. LEP students who are first year enrollees in U.S. schools are also eligible to take the Plain English Mathematics.

How Are LEP Students Counted For AYP Determinations?

LEP students may count in many different categories. In one example, a group of 58 students included 38 students who were counted in the groups of:

– All Students, – LEP, – Poverty, and– Hispanic

Accountability of Groups – Example Accountability of Groups – Example

Arlington:Arlington: ~$125,000~$125,000

Harrisonburg:Harrisonburg: ~$ 42,000~$ 42,000

Shenandoah:Shenandoah: ~$ 7,300~$ 7,300

So, how much does it cost?So, how much does it cost?

We do.We do.

The United States Department of The United States Department of Education does not pay for the mandated Education does not pay for the mandated tests …tests …

The Commonwealth of Virginia does not The Commonwealth of Virginia does not pay for the mandated tests …pay for the mandated tests …

So, who pays? We do.So, who pays? We do.

So, who pays for it?So, who pays for it?

The need for the state to cover the cost of the mandated The need for the state to cover the cost of the mandated tests taken by LEP students.   tests taken by LEP students.  

Rationale:Rationale: Currently these are the Currently these are the onlyonly mandated tests  mandated tests not funded by the state.   This is inequitable and makes not funded by the state.   This is inequitable and makes those divisions with many LEP students carry a heavier those divisions with many LEP students carry a heavier financial burden for testing than other divisions.financial burden for testing than other divisions.

Question:Question: How much money is this costing your school How much money is this costing your school division? division?

LEP Caucus Issue #1LEP Caucus Issue #1

The need to increase the staffing ratio for ESOL from The need to increase the staffing ratio for ESOL from 17 teachers for every 1,000 students to 30 for every 17 teachers for every 1,000 students to 30 for every 1,000 students in the Standards of Quality, and to 1,000 students in the Standards of Quality, and to provide for 2 pupil personnel positions per 1,000 LEP provide for 2 pupil personnel positions per 1,000 LEP studentsstudents. .    

Rationale:Rationale: This will provide adequate staffing for This will provide adequate staffing for reasonable class sizes and sound instruction in the reasonable class sizes and sound instruction in the classroom as well as the external support classroom as well as the external support (parent liaisons, interpreters, counselors, social workers) vital for our LEP students’ school success..

Question: Question: How could this increase in the staffing ratio How could this increase in the staffing ratio impact instruction for LEP students in your division?impact instruction for LEP students in your division?

LEP Caucus Issue #2LEP Caucus Issue #2

AlignmentAlignment – very important, both a standardized test and a – very important, both a standardized test and a body of evidence have to measure and show the same things to body of evidence have to measure and show the same things to be valid, which then means they are aligned with each other. be valid, which then means they are aligned with each other. And, of course, all assessments should align with what is And, of course, all assessments should align with what is taught.taught.

Body of EvidenceBody of Evidence – group of measures, could include DRA, – group of measures, could include DRA, VGLA, SOLs, portfolioVGLA, SOLs, portfolio

WIDA – the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium who developed and markets the ACCESS assessment.

ACCESSACCESS – Assessing Comprehension and Communication in – Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners English State to State for English Language Learners ((ACCESS for ELLsACCESS for ELLs). The assessment that Virginia has ). The assessment that Virginia has selected to use to assess LEP students’ English proficiency.selected to use to assess LEP students’ English proficiency.

Testing is Important -- A Few TermsTesting is Important -- A Few Terms

The challenge of testing is how to best reflect the The challenge of testing is how to best reflect the whole child. Many divisions meet this challenge whole child. Many divisions meet this challenge by using a body of evidence (lots of different by using a body of evidence (lots of different tests and assessments).tests and assessments).

One single test score is not the best way to One single test score is not the best way to determine a child’s ability level, success in determine a child’s ability level, success in school, or a child’s future.school, or a child’s future.

However … A New Testing IssueHowever … A New Testing Issue

Many school divisions in Virginia have been Many school divisions in Virginia have been using a body of evidence, several different using a body of evidence, several different  measures, to determine LEP students' level of  measures, to determine LEP students' level of proficiency.proficiency.

They use  these measures both to meet NCLB They use  these measures both to meet NCLB requirements and to place students  properly.requirements and to place students  properly.

Body of EvidenceBody of EvidenceWhat Many Divisions UseWhat Many Divisions Use

USDOE wants each State to either use only one USDOE wants each State to either use only one assessment, or if a State wants to use a body of assessment, or if a State wants to use a body of evidence, align the body of evidence with that one evidence, align the body of evidence with that one assessment.assessment.

Under Consideration by State Board of Education Under Consideration by State Board of Education (Decision in January 2010):(Decision in January 2010):

No multiple measures, only one test – ACCESS for No multiple measures, only one test – ACCESS for ELLs – tELLs – to determine 1. a student's proficiency in o determine 1. a student's proficiency in English and 2.  if the student will take  the SOL or the English and 2.  if the student will take  the SOL or the VGLA.VGLA.

A New Testing IssueA New Testing Issue

Measures  reading, writing, speaking and listening. Measures  reading, writing, speaking and listening.   The two last are tested  one on one with a trained test   The two last are tested  one on one with a trained test giver and can last 30 minutes or more.   The  ACCESS giver and can last 30 minutes or more.   The  ACCESS is a good test, but it is expensive to administer and takes is a good test, but it is expensive to administer and takes a  lot of time per student.   It also does not align with a  lot of time per student.   It also does not align with previous ELL  levels and some students are placed previous ELL  levels and some students are placed higher than they should be and  some lower.  This higher than they should be and  some lower.  This means some students at a low level are assigned the means some students at a low level are assigned the  SOL test, not the VGLA. SOL test, not the VGLA.

WIDA/ACCESS TestingWIDA/ACCESS Testing

1.1. It will probably cost some divisions even more It will probably cost some divisions even more money we do not have…money we do not have…

2.2. And, even more importantly, And, even more importantly, some students will not some students will not be placed in the proper proficiency level, will take be placed in the proper proficiency level, will take the SOLs and may not do as well on that test as their the SOLs and may not do as well on that test as their hard work and their teachers efforts would indicate, hard work and their teachers efforts would indicate, and their school or division may not make AYP.and their school or division may not make AYP.

What Happens if We Can’t Use the What Happens if We Can’t Use the Body of Evidence?Body of Evidence?

Two Real ExamplesTwo Real Examples• Current Grade 4 Student

– Results of English Language Proficiency assessment suggests the student could take the VGLA (ACCESS score of 3.3)

– However, the results of the local standardized reading assessment (body of evidence) suggests that the SOL would be the more appropriate assessment (DRA score of 38 – end of Grade 3)

• Current Grade 5 Student– Results of English Language Proficiency assessment suggests

the student could take the SOL (ACCESS score of 4.3)– However, the results of the local standardized assessment

(body of evidence) suggests that the VGLA would be the more appropriate assessment (DRA score of 18 – end of Grade 1-beginning of Grade 2)

A standardized, statewide, local body of evidence A standardized, statewide, local body of evidence allows for a more accurate assessment of a student’s allows for a more accurate assessment of a student’s English language proficiency/WIDA level by taking English language proficiency/WIDA level by taking into consideration multiple measures over a period of into consideration multiple measures over a period of time.time.

Question: Question: Do we want to come together and help the Do we want to come together and help the State do the research necessary to keep the body of State do the research necessary to keep the body of evidence as a local option?evidence as a local option?

What Else? Next StepsWhat Else? Next Steps

LEP Caucus LinkLEP Caucus Link

www.apsva.us/LEPCaucus

Libby GarveyLibby GarveyArlington Public SchoolsArlington Public Schools