1. Future Ready Schools English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina: English Language Proficiency Testing 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

2. Future Ready Schools 2 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina Federal and State Policy  NCLB 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.

3. Future Ready Schools 3 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina Federal and State Policy  The 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).

4. Future Ready Schools 4 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

5. Future Ready Schools 5 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina Federal and State Policy  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.

6. Future Ready Schools 6 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina Federal and State Policy  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.

7. Future Ready Schools 7 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina Federal and State Policy  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.

8. Future Ready Schools 8 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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?

9. Future Ready Schools 9 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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?

10. Future Ready Schools 10 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina IPT Grade Spans There are five grade spans including: Grade K Grade Span 1-2 Grade Span 3-5 Grade Span 6-8 Grade Span 9-12

11. Future Ready Schools 11 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina IPT Subtests The four IPT subtests include: Reading Writing Listening Speaking

12. Future Ready Schools 12 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

13. Future Ready Schools 13 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

14. Future Ready Schools 14 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

15. Future Ready Schools 15 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

16. Future Ready Schools 16 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

17. Future Ready Schools 17 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

18. Future Ready Schools 18 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

19. Future Ready Schools 19 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

20. Future Ready Schools 20 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

21. Future Ready Schools 21 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

22. Future Ready Schools 22 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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.

23. Future Ready Schools 23 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina 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

24. Future Ready Schools 24 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina IPT Training  While 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.

25. Future Ready Schools 25 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina

26. Future Ready Schools 26 English Language Proficiency Testing in North Carolina Questions and Answers