A Parent’s Guide to English Learner Assessments
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Highlights
English Learner students take two required annual exams, an English proficiency test and academic assessments. Pandemic disruptions complicated results in 2020–21.
- English Learner (EL) students—roughly 10 percent of U.S. K–12 students—must take two types of annual exams: an English language proficiency (ELP) test and academic exams required of all students.
- ELP test results determine what support services EL students receive, measure English-learning progress, and indicate when students no longer need language development support.
- The federal government waived annual testing requirements for 2019–20 due to the pandemic; in 2020–21, required tests resumed but results were difficult to interpret due to missed in-person schooling.
- Parents should ask schools about test results, available support services, school report card data on ELs, and how to access information in their native language or with an interpreter.
There are approximately 5 million English Learners (ELs) enrolled in U.S. public schools. These students make up roughly 10 percent of K-12 students, and they come from many different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Parent and community engagement with schools is an important part of ensuring the educational success of these and all students.
This question-and-answer document aims to help parents and other community members understand why and how students who are ELs take standardized tests. It answers questions such as “What tests does my child take?” and “How has the pandemic affected testing?”
The accompanying glossary of key terms defines words that are used frequently in conversations about K-12 education and ELs in the United States. This information can be helpful as parents work to make sure their child receives the best education possible.
Para leer estos documentos en español, haga clic aquí.
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