Testing Accommodations for English Language
Learners-Katalina Perez
Purpose of Testing Accommodations for
English Language Learners
Testing accommodations promote equity and
validity in assessment
For English Language Learners, accomodations provide an
opportunity to show their skill despite language limitations
Reducing or eliminating construct-irrelevant variance
increases test validity
Language proficiency should not be evaluated
unless it is the objetive of the test
Testing Accommodations objectives
They are intended to benefit examinees that require them while having little
to no impact on the performance of students who do not need them
Testing accommodations require further research
Testing Accommodations
Changes in the assessment environment or
process that do not fundamentally alter
what the assessment measures
Testing Modifications
Changes in the assessment environment or
process that may fundamentally alter what
the assessment measures
Identifying Students Eligible for
Accommodations
There are no uniform guidelines or policies at the federal
level regarding the use of accommodations
For students with disabilities, eligibility for accommodations is part
of a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
ELLs who regularly use accommodations in the classroom are usually
eligible to use the same accommodations in testing situations
Created by Katalina Perez
Identifying Accommodations
Direct linguistic
support
accommodations
involve adjustments to
the language of the test
E.g. providing a translated or adapted version of
the test in the student’s native language or
providing test directions orally in the student’s
native language
Indirect linguistic
support
accommodations
involve adjustments to the conditions under
which a test is administered
E.g. extended testing time or having the
test administered individually or in small
groups
When Accommodations Should Be Used
There are no standards, just factors
Students’ proficiency in English as well as in
their native language
Academic subjects being
assessed
Student’s familiarity with the
accommodations
The language in which the student
receives instruction, and the range of
available accommodations for
examinees