DESE English Language Learner Programs 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law replaced the Bilingual Education Act and introduced the term 'English language learner' into federal education policy?
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (Correct answer)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
Correct answer: No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 replaced the Bilingual Education Act and established Title III, which formalized accountability for ELL students.
Question 2: Under ESSA, how often must states assess English language proficiency of ELL students?
- Every two years
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every three years
- Only upon initial enrollment
Correct answer: Annually
ESSA requires annual English language proficiency assessments for all ELL students to monitor progress toward language acquisition goals.
Question 3: What does the term 'additive bilingualism' refer to in ELL program design?
- Teaching English before introducing any native language instruction
- Developing proficiency in a second language while maintaining the first language (Correct answer)
- Alternating languages daily in the classroom
- Translating all instruction word-for-word between two languages
Correct answer: Developing proficiency in a second language while maintaining the first language
Additive bilingualism refers to acquiring a new language while maintaining and developing the home language, supporting cognitive and academic growth.
Question 4: A student who scores at the highest proficiency level on the annual ELP assessment and meets academic benchmarks is typically classified as:
- Long-term English learner
- Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) (Correct answer)
- Initially Fluent English Proficient (IFEP)
- Monitoring-only status
Correct answer: Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP)
Students who meet reclassification criteria are designated Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) and exit ELL services.
Question 5: Which instructional strategy involves previewing key vocabulary and concepts in a student's home language before English instruction begins?
- Code-switching
- Preview-review (Correct answer)
- Submersion
- Sheltered instruction
Correct answer: Preview-review
Preview-review is a strategy where concepts are introduced in the native language, taught in English, and then reviewed again in the native language.
Question 6: According to Massachusetts ELL regulations, how many school days does a district have to place a newly identified ELL student into an appropriate program?
- 5 days
- 10 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 45 days
Correct answer: 30 days
Massachusetts regulations require that identified ELL students be placed into an appropriate language support program within 30 calendar days of enrollment.
Question 7: Which assessment domain is NOT typically measured by English Language Proficiency assessments such as ACCESS for ELLs?
- Listening
- Speaking
- Mathematics computation (Correct answer)
- Writing
Correct answer: Mathematics computation
ELP assessments like ACCESS for ELLs measure the four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—not mathematics computation.
DESE English Language Learner Programs 2
Which federal law replaced the Bilingual Education Act and introduced the term 'English language learner' into federal education policy?