NYSESLAT NYSESLAT Exit Criteria and Reclassification 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What proficiency level must a student achieve on the NYSESLAT to be considered for reclassification as English proficient?
- Transitioning
- Expanding
- Commanding (Correct answer)
- Entering
Correct answer: Commanding
Students must score at the Commanding level — the highest NYSESLAT proficiency level — to be eligible for reclassification and exit from ELL status.
Question 2: How many years are Former English Language Learners (FELLs) monitored after exiting ELL status in New York State?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 4 years
New York State requires that students who exit ELL status be monitored as Former English Language Learners (FELLs) for four years to ensure continued academic success.
Question 3: What term does New York State use to describe students who have met exit criteria and are no longer classified as active ELLs?
- Transitioned Students
- Former English Language Learners (FELLs) (Correct answer)
- Graduated Language Learners
- Proficient English Students
Correct answer: Former English Language Learners (FELLs)
Students who meet reclassification criteria are officially called Former English Language Learners (FELLs) and retain this designation during the four-year monitoring period.
Question 4: Who has the legal right to refuse reclassification even if a student meets all NYSESLAT exit criteria?
- The school principal
- The classroom teacher
- The parent or guardian (Correct answer)
- The school district superintendent
Correct answer: The parent or guardian
Under CR Part 154, a parent or guardian can opt their child out of reclassification, and the student will continue to receive ELL services despite meeting the exit criteria.
Question 5: In how many domains must a student demonstrate Commanding proficiency to be eligible for exit from ELL status on NYSESLAT?
- Only Reading and Writing
- Only Listening and Speaking
- Reading and Listening only
- All four domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All four domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing
Students must achieve Commanding proficiency across all four language domains — Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing — to qualify for reclassification.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of monitoring Former ELLs (FELLs) for four years after reclassification?
- To reassess their immigration status
- To ensure they maintain academic success without ELL support (Correct answer)
- To automatically re-enroll them in ELL programs
- To track their college application outcomes
Correct answer: To ensure they maintain academic success without ELL support
The monitoring period ensures that reclassified students continue to succeed academically in a general education setting without the specialized ELL services they previously received.
Question 7: How frequently is the NYSESLAT administered to students who are currently classified as English Language Learners?
- Every semester
- Every two years
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Monthly
Correct answer: Annually
The NYSESLAT is administered annually each spring to all currently identified ELL students to measure their English language development and determine reclassification eligibility.
NYSESLAT NYSESLAT Exit Criteria and Reclassification 1
What proficiency level must a student achieve on the NYSESLAT to be considered for reclassification as English proficient?