1. 1 Performance of English Language Learners on the 2008 Grades 3-8 ELA Tests David Abrams Assistant Commissioner for Standards, Assessment, and Reporting S/CDN March 6, 2009

2. 2 Introduction  This presentation summarizes the performance of NYS public and charter school ELLs on the Grades 3-8 English Language Arts tests in 2008. The ELA performance of former ELLs who exited in 2006 and 2007 is also presented.  The analyses in this presentation are based on the 72,698 ELLs who took the State Grade 3-8 ELA tests in January 2008 and the NYSESLAT in May 2008. The analyses of the former ELLs are based on the 30,564 ELLs who exited in 2006 and 2007 for whom the 2008 Grade 3-8 ELA scores are available.  The ELL population has significantly improved their performance on the Grade 3-8 ELA tests between 2007 and 2008. The percentage of ELLs scoring at Level 3 and above has increased and the percentage of ELLs showing serious academic deficiency in ELA has dropped.  Former ELLs have a comparable chance to score Level 3 or higher on the Grades 3-8 ELA tests as English proficient students.

3. 3 Number of ELLs Tested On Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

4. 4 Performance of ELLs On 2008 Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

5. 5 The Mean Scale Score increased for ELLs in every grade, though the smallest increase is seen in Grade 8

6. 6 There was an increase in the Percentage of ELLs Scoring At Levels 3 and 4 on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

7. 7 There was an increase in Percentage of ELLs Scoring At Level 2 and Above on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

8. 8 There was a noticeable decrease in Percentage of ELLs Scoring at Level 1 on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

9. 9 There was an Increase in Percentage of Proficient ELLs Scoring at Levels 3 and 4 on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests, but no gain in Grade 8

10. 10 Achievement of ELLs on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests by NYSESLAT Performance Level

11. 11 Achievement of ELLs on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By NYSESLAT L/S Performance Level

12. 12 Achievement of ELLs on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By NYSESLAT R/W Performance Level

13. 13 Grade 3 ELL Achievement on ELA By NYSESLAT Performance Level

14. 14 Grade 4 ELL Achievement on ELA By NYSESLAT Performance Level

15. 15 Grade 5 ELL Achievement on ELA By NYSESLAT Performance Level

16. 16 Grade 6 ELL Achievement on ELA By NYSESLAT Performance Level

17. 17 Grade 7 ELL Achievement on ELA By NYSESLAT Performance Level

18. 18 Grade 8 ELL Achievement on ELA By NYSESLAT Performance Level

19. 19 ELL Achievement on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By Number of Years of Service Duratio nTotal <1883 12,982 210,422 310,527 416,177 512,478 68,250 75,016 83,256 91,542 10+859

20. 20 ELL Achievement on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By Need/Resource Category

21. 21 ELL Achievement on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By Gender

22. 22 ELL Achievement On Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By Major Home Language Group

23. 23 ELL Achievement On Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By Ethnicity

24. 24 Achievement of ELLs With Disabilities on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

25. 25 Achievement of ELLs Without Disabilities on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

26. 26 Achievement of ELLs With Disabilities On Grades 3-8 ELA Tests By Disability Type

27. 27 Percentage of ELLs at Level 3-4 on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests by Disability Status

28. 28 Percentage of ELLs scoring at Level 1 in ELA by Disability Status

29. 29 Comparison of Non-ELLs, ELLs and Former ELLs Achievement on Grades 3-8 ELA Tests

30. 30 Comparison of Non-ELLs, ELLs and Former ELLs Achievement on 3-8 ELA Tests by Grade Percentage of Level 3 + 4 Students

31. 31 Grade 11 Percentage of ELLs Scoring at Each of NYSESLAT Performance Levels Passing/Failing the Regents English Exam

32. 32 Grade 12 Percentage of ELLs Scoring at Each of NYSESLAT Performance Levels Passing/Failing the Regents English Exam

33. 33 NYSESLAT Scores Predict ELA Performance Well NYSESLAT scores explained 46% to 53% of the variance in ELA performance across grades in 2008. Multiple Regression Model Summary GradeCorrelation Coefficient Grade 30.725 Grade 40.722 Grade 50.677 Grade 60.721 Grade 70.696 Grade 80.721 *Dependent Variable: ELA scale score *Predictors: NYSESLAT Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing scores

34. 34 Summary  In 2008, the percentage of ELLs meeting the ELA standards increased from 18% in 2007 to 25% in 2008; the percentage of ELLs showing serious academic difficulty in ELA decreased from 29% in 2007 to 18% in 2008.  NYSESLAT scores are good predictors of the ELA performance, accounting for 43% to 53% of the variance in ELA scale scores across grades. ELLs who scored at the proficient level on the NYSESLAT had a much better chance to meet the ELA standards than those who scored below proficient.

35. 35 Summary  Former ELLs in grades 3 to 5 had comparable chance as the English proficient students to meet the ELA standards, the percentage of former ELLs in grades 6 to 8 ranged from 43% to 62%.  ELLs in the elementary grades, with 3-6 years of service, and those from schools outside the Big 5 cities were more likely than their counterparts to score proficient on the Grade 3-8 ELA tests.  ELLs who scored at Level 1 on the 3-8 ELA tests were more likely to be in the middle school grades, with less than 3 years of service, ELLs with disability and those who scored at the beginning or intermediate level on the NYSESLAT.