NYS TESOL Curriculum and Standards

2005 NYSESLAT

A collation of teacher feedback received by NYS TESOL from throughout the state regarding the NYSESLAT has been sent to Carmen Perez Hogan; to Dave Osberg, the NYSESLAT Program Manager at HarcourtAssessment, Inc.; and to Roslyn Christie in the Office of State Assessment. Appended were comments regarding the old NYSESLAT for comparison, as well as notes from the roundtable discussion at the 2004 conference.

SUMMER TIMELINE:

• Harcourt Assessment is responsible for performing psychometric analysis of statewide student scores on NYSESLAT 2005, after the June 24 deadline for the Regional Information Centers/Scanning Centers submission of student data files to Harcourt.
• June 28-30 75 ESL teachers from across the state will work with Harcourt and NYSED during an Item Review Conference in Albany. Each individual item on the 2006 NYSESLAT will be mapped to the NYS ESL standards and performance indicators.
• All student score data will be certified by Harcourt and then submitted to SED on the LEAP and STEP files, along with their recommendations for the NYSESLAT cut scores to SED during the week of July 11-15. Harcourt's recommendations to SED will be based on the NYSESLAT Standard Setting conference in Albany March 28-31, 2005, and their analysis of statewide impact data.
• The state anticipates that the NYSESLAT cut scores will be posted on the Office of State Assessment's website during the last two weeks in July (18-29).

The 2005 NYSESLAT was basically similar to the 2003 and 2004 versions, but new tests for the next five years are currently in development. Questions about the NYSESLAT may be sent to emscassessinfo@mail.nysed.gov or you can call (518) 474-5902 or -5099.
 
The New York State Education Department Office of Assessment website http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/ has links to

• clarification of ruling regarding students' not being exempted from NYSESLAT posted 5/13/05
• FAQs updated 5/25/05, with item regarding NYSESLAT writing tests' being timed or untimed
• parent brochures describing NYSESLAT available in several languages
• other older links, including one to an archive updated 5/11/05

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/school-accountability/nyseslat-score-ranges.htm has a conversion chart for estimating a comparable score on 4th and 8th grade ELAs, based on NYSESLAT score and number of years of English instruction.
 
The 2004-05 school year is the second of a three-year cycle (2003-2006) for districts to file reports under CR Part 154 to receive state funding for ELL services. Additionally, a NYSED grant funds BETACs (Bilingual Education Technical Assistance Centers) to help school districts educate ELLs. The seven BETACs hold NYSESLAT workshops for teachers throughout the state. (NCLB Title III Part A provides federal funding for LEP and immigrant student language instruction programs.)
 
Modifications allowed ELLs during standardized tests other than the NYSESLAT

• Time Extension: Schools may extend test time for LEP students. Principals may use any reasonable extensions, such as "time and a half" (the required testing time plus one-half of that amount of time), in accordance with their best judgment about the needs of the LEP students. Principals should consult with each student's teacher in making these determinations.
• Separate Location: Schools are encouraged to provide optimum testing environment and facilities for LEP students. They may administer State tests to LEP students individually or in small groups in a separate location.
• Bilingual Dictionaries and Glossaries: LEP students may use bilingual dictionaries and glossaries when taking these examinations. The bilingual dictionaries and glossaries may provide only direct translations of words. Bilingual dictionaries or glossaries that provide definitions or explanations are not permitted.
• Simultaneous Use of English and Alternative Language Editions: LEP students may use both an English and an alternative language edition of the test simultaneously. However, they should be carefully instructed to record all of their responses in only one of the two editions. The alternative language edition used by the student should be so indicated on the student's answer document.
• Oral Translation for Lower Incidence Languages: Schools may provide LEP students with an oral translation of these examinations when there is no translated edition provided by the Department. All translations must be oral, direct translations of the English editions; written translations are not allowed. No clarifications or explanations may be provided. The translator should receive a copy of the English edition of the test one hour prior to administration. The Department's Office of Bilingual Education and the BETACs (Bilingual Education Technical Assistance Centers) can assist schools in locating suitable translators.
• Writing Responses in the Native Language: LEP students making use of alternative language editions or of oral translations of these examinations may write their responses to the open-ended questions in their native language. Scoring the tests is the responsibility of the school. However, the Department's Office of Bilingual Education and the BETACs can assist schools in locating persons who can translate the students' responses into English to facilitate scoring of the answer papers.

ESL Standards

The New York State ESL Standards can be downloaded from:
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/biling/resource/ESL/standards.html