ELDA: English Language Development Assessment

Next ELDA Meeting: May 7-8 Charlotte, NC Introducing ELDA The English Language Development Assessment (ELDA) is a new series of comprehensive assessments that measure annual progress in English language skills of English language learners in grades K-12. Currently used by six states, the assessment consists of inventories (grades K, 1-2) and separate tests (grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12). Individual student scores indicate one of five possible proficiency levels, ranging from pre-functional to fully English proficient, in listening, speaking, reading, writing, comprehension, and provide a composite score that is calculated from all of the required domains. The K-2 inventories are critical tools designed to help teachers recognize, diagnose and address language development issues early on so that students are more likely to succeed on the later tests. For more information, see the ELDA brochure.  A Unique Assessment ELDA helps states meet NCLB requirements. ELDA provides an annual assessment of English proficiency and progression in acquisition focuses on academic language proficiency and reflects discourse in the content areas of English language arts, math, science, technology, social studies, and school environment complies with all psychometric requirements provides complete reports of achievement at the school, district, and state levels “ELDA is truly aligned to our standards. It effectively tests the skills that we want our students to master in learning English. We know that ELDA tests what we are teaching.” Catherine Neff Title III/ESOL Consultant South Carolina State Department of Education ELDA goes beyond NCLB to further enhance teaching and learning. ELDA provides K-2 diagnostic assessments, called “inventories,” that use multiple measures in a variety of settings to record and analyze student behavior and language development provides scoring for each K-2 student inventory provides scoring for grades 3-12 assessments in each domain of language and comprehension at the school, district, and state levels gives teachers vital information on their students’ English proficiency through Performance Level Descriptors identifies additional support needed by LEP students Development Based in Research and Practice ELDA was developed by LEP SCASS member states in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the American Institutes for Research, the Center for the Study of Assessment Validity and Evaluation at the University of Maryland, and Measurement Incorporated. Teachers in pilot sites aided in the development of the questions. ELDA Is Flexible and Easy to Order Interested states can purchase ELDA through a flexible pricing model buy a license allowing them to use and distribute the assessment within the state purchase ongoing professional development support from test vendor to state-designated assessment and ESL representatives for an additional fee Program Staff Duncan MacQuarrie, Coordinator bgassess@aol.com 360-753-0739 “ELDA goes way beyond where we were previously with assessing students. ELDA gives us many new assessment opportunities—including five proficiency levels along with specific language levels to help us determine ELL proficiency in the content areas. Before ELDA we did not have a comprehensive measure to help us objectify student learning in order to move our ELL students into transitional or exit status. It was all hit or miss. Now, ELDA gives them a ‘third leg’ in the assessment triangle to help us understand where our ELL students are in their English proficiency. Could not have asked for a better assessment!” Robert Mata Davenport Schools, Iowa Upcoming Meeting Information Agenda Letter from Tom Houlihan to Henry Johnson on Title III ELP Assessments, May 18, 2006

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document last updated 5/5/2008