Teachers who work with English as a Second Language learners will find ESL/ESOL/ELL/EFL reading/writing skill-building children's books, stories, activities, ideas, strategies to help PreK-3, 4-8, and 9-12 students learn to read.
ELL Assessment
In this section:
This section addresses the critical questions of how to properly assess and place English language learners.
For information about identifying ELLs and placing students in programs of instruction, see our ELL Identification and Placement section.
Assessment Guidelines for ELLs
No Child Left Behind and ELLs
This section includes a variety of user-friendly resources introducing educators to the guidelines of No Child Left Behind (now known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA) that relate to English language learners (ELLs). Topics include NCLB's assessment requirements for ELLs, ELL instruction, and how to define ELL success.
State ELL Regulations
Many of the regulations and procedures that shape ELL identification, instruction, and assessment are determined at the state level. Through our interactive web resources map, we present information about English language proficiency assessments and ELL accommodations for state reading and math assessments where available.
ELL Assessment and Accountability: Policy Topics
This articles focus on policy questions surrounding ELL assessment and accountability topics such as assessment for young ELLs, assessment validity, and value-added measures (VAMs) for ELL educators.
Using Assessment to Inform ELL Instruction
Informal Assessment
- ELL Starter Kit for Educators: Tools for Monitoring Language Skills
- Using Informal Assessments for ELLs
Writing Assessments
Videos on ELL Assessment
Webcast: Assessment of ELLs
This webcast, featuring Dr. Lorraine Valdez Pierce, covers performance-based standardized assessments; assessment as a tool for informing instruction; and student self-assessment and self-monitoring.
Preschool for English Language Learners
This webcast features Dr. Rebecca Palacios and offers information on the compontents of an effective preschool ELL program, including best practices for the assessment of young children.
Video Clips: ELL Assessment
These video excerpts from our Meet the Experts interviews feature discussion related to ELL assessment around topics such as test validity, ELL sub-groups, ELL accommodations, the Common Core State Standards, and how to define success with ELLs.
Related Resources
More Resources from Colorín Colorado
Information for Parents
Testing: An Introduction for Parents offers parents overview of standardized testing and suggests strategies that will help support school success.
ELL Assessment Booklist
These books offer an introduction to assessment best practices for English language learners, as well as numerous student examples and special considerations to keep in mind.
Many of the books include hands-on resources such as rubrics, student-led conference forms, and graphic organizers.
Recommended Websites
These websites will provide additional information about assessment and placement for ELLs.
- Academic Content Standards & Assessment (National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition)
- ELL Testing & Assessment Resources (Center for Applied Linguistics)
- ELL Assessment Webinars (Schools Moving Up)
- ELL Assessment Research (Teaching Diverse Learners)
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I recently found your website and it is very informative. You have found a way to teach ELLs in a more objective method and I applaud you for that. God Bless you all for your efforts to make our society aware of the need to teach English to those who come to make their dreams a reality in our country.
~ Arthur G.
