'Taking a Test.' photo (c) 2009, Renato Ganoza - license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

My column in Education Week Teacher this week will respond to the question “How Should The “Next Generation” Of Standardized Tests Treat ELL’s?” and I thought a supplementary list like this post would be useful.

This list is a bit of a Hodge-podge, and includes resources on legal details on ELL testing requirements and research on the effect of standardized tests on ELL’s. This post does not include materials related to standardized language assessments — you can find that information at The Best Resources For Learning About The “Next Generation” Of State Testing. Information on preparing ELL’s and other students to actually take standardized tests can be found at The Best Posts On How To Prepare For Standardized Tests (And Why They’re Bad).

Here are my choices for The Best Resources On ELL’s & Standardized Tests:

The Educational Testing Service publishes Testing Accommodations for English Language Learners: A Review of State and District Policies.

High Stakes Testing: Issues, Implications, and Remedies for English Language Learners
 is a very important study by Ronald W. Solórzano. Unfortunately, unless you have access to SAGE, it costs $25 to purchase it. In the paper, he concludes:

…that high stakes tests as currently constructed are inappropriate for ELLs, and most disturbing is their continued use for high stakes decisions that have adverse consequences.

ELL Assessment: One Size Does Not Fit All is a commentary from Ed Week.

Performance Assessments for English Language Learners comes from the Stanford Center For Opportunity Policy in Education.

Common-Core Test Experts Explain ELL and Special Education Supports is from Education Week.

What Do We Do if We Suspect That Our English Learners May Not Pass Standardized Assessments? is by Carol Salva.

Accommodations for English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities: A Research-Based Decision Algorithm is from Smarter Balanced.\

This Is An Excellent Piece On The Pitfalls Of Over-Analyzing ELL Standardized Assessments

Feedback is welcome.

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