ELPA21 ELPA21 Score Reporting and Interpretation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How are ELPA21 summative scores typically used by participating US states?
- To determine ELL program placement and monitor annual progress toward English proficiency (Correct answer)
- To assign final academic grades in core content areas
- To place students in special education programs
- To evaluate classroom teacher performance ratings
Correct answer: To determine ELL program placement and monitor annual progress toward English proficiency
States use ELPA21 summative scores primarily to monitor ELL students' annual progress toward English proficiency and make program placement decisions.
Question 2: Which federal law requires states to annually assess English language proficiency and report progress for ELL students, making ELPA21 scores consequential?
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (Correct answer)
- No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA original)
Correct answer: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
ESSA requires all states to annually assess ELL students' English language proficiency and include ELP progress as an accountability indicator.
Question 3: What does a 'growth score' on the ELPA21 score report help educators understand?
- How much a student's English proficiency improved from one year to the next (Correct answer)
- Whether the student scored above the state average composite
- The number of test items completed within the allotted time
- How a student performed relative to native English speakers
Correct answer: How much a student's English proficiency improved from one year to the next
A growth score quantifies the change in a student's English proficiency level from one testing year to the next.
Question 4: On ELPA21 score reports, what does the term 'standard error of measurement' (SEM) help educators avoid?
- Over-interpreting small differences between scores as meaningful (Correct answer)
- Reporting scores to parents before state approval
- Using scores for instructional planning decisions
- Comparing students across different grade bands
Correct answer: Over-interpreting small differences between scores as meaningful
The SEM reminds educators that a score is an estimate with a range of uncertainty, preventing over-interpretation of small score differences.
Question 5: Which ELPA21 score metric is most commonly used for annual ELP accountability reporting under ESSA?
- Overall Composite proficiency level (Correct answer)
- Domain-specific raw score totals
- Number of items attempted per domain
- Scaled scores for speaking only
Correct answer: Overall Composite proficiency level
The Overall Composite proficiency level is the primary metric used for ESSA ELP accountability reporting in ELPA21 states.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the ELPA21 'Reclassification Criteria' guidance provided to states?
- To help states set defensible exit criteria for reclassifying ELL students as English proficient (Correct answer)
- To assign students to specific ELD classroom settings based on their domain scores
- To rank schools by their percentage of students at proficiency level 5
- To determine which students qualify for bilingual education programs
Correct answer: To help states set defensible exit criteria for reclassifying ELL students as English proficient
ELPA21 reclassification guidance helps states establish valid and consistent criteria for exiting students from ELL services when they reach proficiency.
ELPA21 ELPA21 Score Reporting and Interpretation 2
How are ELPA21 summative scores typically used by participating US states?