Accommodations of the Statewide Assessment Program Instruments and Procedures for Limited English Proficient Students

Question 1

(1) The Department of Education shall provide accommodations for English Language Learners (ELLs) to enable them to

Answer 1

fully participate in the statewide assessment program as defined in Sections 1008.22, 1008.34 and 1001.11, F.S.

Question 2

(2) Each school board shall utilize appropriate test accommodations within the limits prescribed herein. School district personnel are required to implement the accommodations in a manner that

Answer 2

ensures the test responses are the independent work of the student. Personnel are prohibited from assisting a student in determining how the student will respond or directing or leading the student to a particular response.

Question 3

(3) School districts shall offer test accommodations to ELLs students who currently are receiving services in a program operated in accordance with an approved ELL district plan. The assessment tests may be administered with

Answer 3

any one or a combination of the accommodations authorized herein that are determined to be appropriate for the individual student.

Question 4

Accommodations for statewide assessment tests shall include:

Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Answer 4

(a) ELLs may be given additional time to complete each test section, and the entire test may be administered over one or more days. Students who begin any individual section of the test shall complete it in the same school day.
(b) ELLs may be given access to English-to-heritage language/heritage language-to-English dictionaries such as those made available to ELLs in an instructional setting. A dictionary written exclusively in the heritage language or in English shall not be provided.
(c) ELLs may be given the opportunity to be tested in a separate room with the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or heritage language teacher serving as test administrator. If the ELL is not of legal age, the parents of said student shall be informed of this particular accommodation and shall be given the opportunity to select the preferred method of test administration.
(d) ELLs taking the mathematics test section may be provided limited assistance by the ESOL or heritage language teacher using the student’s heritage language. This assistance shall be as follows:
1. The teacher may answer student inquiries related to any of the test directions.
2. The teacher may answer specific inquiries concerning a word or phrase in a particular test question that is confusing the student because of limited English proficiency. In no case shall assistance be given the student in actually solving the mathematics questions.
3. Questions for clarification posed by individual students must be answered on an individual basis by the test administrator to prevent interference with another student’s ability to concentrate.
(e) ELLs taking the communications or reading test sections may be provided limited assistance by the ESOL or heritage language teacher using the student’s heritage language. This assistance shall be as follows:
1. The teacher may answer student inquiries related to any of the general test directions as long as the ELL is not unmistakably led to infer the correct answer to any of the questions.
2. The teacher shall not answer ELLs’ inquiries about the reading passages, the question stems, or answer alternatives.
3. ELLs may have access to the dictionary specified in subparagraph (3)(a)2., F.A.C., of this rule, but the student is expected to read the reading passage, the question stems, and the answer alternatives in English.
(f) ELLs taking the writing test may be provided limited assistance by the ESOL heritage language teacher using the student’s heritage language. This assistance shall be as follows:
1. Flexible setting. ELLs may be given the opportunity to be tested in a separate room with the ESOL or heritage language teacher serving as test administrator. If the ELL is not of legal age, the parents of said student shall be informed of this particular accommodation and shall be given the opportunity to select the preferred method of test administration.
2. Assistance in the heritage language. The ESOL or heritage language teacher may answer student questions about the general test directions in their heritage language, but the teacher is prohibited from answering questions about the writing prompt.
3. Flexible scheduling. ELLs may take the test during several brief sessions within one school day. All testing must be completed within the prescribed testing period shown in the test administration manual.
4. Flexible timing. ELLs may be provided additional time beyond the time limit specified in the test administration manual for administration of the test to English proficient students.
5. Dictionary. ELLs may have access to English-to-heritage language/heritage language-to-English dictionaries, such as those made available to ELLs in an instructional setting. A dictionary written exclusively in the heritage language or in English shall not be provided.
(4) Each school board shall establish procedures whereby training shall be provided to the ESOL or heritage language teacher who is administering any of the statewide assessment tests. The training shall be designed to teach the teacher how to administer the statewide assessment tests within the limits prescribed in this rule.
(5) ELLs who otherwise are classified as exceptional education or handicapped students shall be afforded the additional test accommodations specified in Rule 6A-1.0943, F.A.C.