Discerning and Fostering What

English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence
of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

August 2016

THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS

The Council of Chief State School Officers is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who
head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department
of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and
technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues
and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.

Discerning and Fostering What

English Learners Can Do with Language
Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language
Uses for Reclassification Decisions
Authors:
Daniella Molle, Wisconsin Center for Education Research
Robert Linquanti, WestEd
Rita MacDonald, Wisconsin Center for Education Research
H. Gary Cook, Wisconsin Center for Education Research

Acknowledgments:
The development of this guidance would not have been possible without the invaluable input of educators
from the following school districts: Las Cruces and Santa Teresa in New Mexico; Oswego, Oneida, Sodus,
and West Genesee in New York; Corvallis in Oregon; and Madison and Middleton in Wisconsin. We deeply
appreciate their dedication to educating English learners (EL) and their generosity in working with us. We also
thank the educators and stakeholders who participated in a September 2014 national working session on EL
reclassification for their commitment, engagement, and thoughtful discussion. Ideas from that working session
helped spur development of this document. Finally, we thank Kathy Escamilla and Beth Graue for their feedback
on early drafts of the proposed guidelines.

Suggested Citation: Molle, D., Linquanti, R., MacDonald, R., & Cook, H. G. (2016). Discerningand fostering
what English Learners can do with language: Guidance on gathering and interpreting complementary evidence of
classroom language uses for reclassification decisions. Washington DC: Council of Chief State School Officers.

One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001-1431

Phone (202) 336-7000 Fax (202) 408-8072 www.ccsso.org
Copyright 2016 by the Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, DC
All rights reserved.

Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................1
Rationale........................................................................................................................................................2
Guidelines on Developing and Implementing Evidence-Gathering Processes and Tools
for Observing Classroom Language Uses....................................................................................................4
Approach to Developing the Sample Evidence-Gathering Processes
and Tools.......................................................................................................................................................5
Guidelines for Gathering and Analyzing Evidence of Classroom-Based Language Uses............................6
Where should the evidence come from?.................................................................................................6
What kinds of language uses should the evidence represent?...............................................................6
Which language domains should the collected evidence address?........................................................7
How should educators evaluate the gathered evidence?.......................................................................8
Who should collect and analyze the evidence?.......................................................................................9
How should states support teachers in gathering and analyzing evidence?..........................................9
Recommended Strategies for Gathering Evidence....................................................................................10
Observation to Gather Evidence of Interactive Language Uses...........................................................10
A Student Portfolio to Gather Evidence of Literacy-based Language Uses.......................................... 11
Considering Student and Family Perspectives in the Reclassification Process..................................... 11
Sample Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Evidence................................................................................ 11
Observation Sheet.................................................................................................................................12
Language Use Rubric.............................................................................................................................12
Considerations When Analyzing Evidence.................................................................................................13
Level of Independence..........................................................................................................................13
Prior Subject-Area Knowledge ..............................................................................................................13
Continuum of Language Support after Reclassification........................................................................13
Combining Multiple Sources of Evidence for Reclassification
Decision-Making.........................................................................................................................................14
Concluding Thoughts: Using Complementary Evidence in Reclassification Decisions.............................14
References...................................................................................................................................................15
Appendix A.................................................................................................................................................17
Appendix B.................................................................................................................................................18
Appendix C.................................................................................................................................................20

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

ii

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

Introduction
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) established an English Language Learner
Assessment Advisory Task Force in 2012 to address opportunities and challenges for English learners
(ELs) presented by new college- and career-ready standards and assessments.1 This Advisory Task
Forcecomposed of technical staff and leadership from multi-state assessment consortia, EL
researchers and technical assistance experts, policy advisers, and other stakeholdersprioritized
efforts to move toward a more common definition of English learner within states and across states
participating in multi-state assessment consortia. They did so for two reasons: it was required of
states participating in any of four federally-funded assessment consortia (USED, 2010); and it was
long recognized as a key policy issue for equity in EL program funding, educational opportunity,
assessment, and accountability (National Research Council [NRC], 2011; Abedi, 2008).
From 2012 to 2015, Advisory Task Force members held meetings; facilitated three national working
sessions with a broad representation of national, state, and local stakeholders; and produced a series
of five working papers that provide guidance on key policy and technical issues in defining ELs.
CCSSO subsequently consolidated these five published papers into a single volume (see Linquanti,
Cook, Bailey, & MacDonald, 2016).
National-level interest in this topic has grown as the December 2015 reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as the Every Student Succeeds Act
(ESSA), requires that states adopt standardized statewide EL entry and exit procedures, in timely
consultation with a geographically representative sample of local education agencies (3111(b)
(2)(A); 3113(b)(2)). Moreover, regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Education (USED)
(Federal Register, May 31, 2016) clarify that this statutory provision requires such State procedures
to include uniform criteria that are applied statewide (p. 34585, emphasis added). Additionally,
with respect to state EL exit criteria, USEDs proposed regulations expressly prohibit a local
option, which cannot be standardized and under which LEAs could have widely varying criteria
(Federal Register, op. cit., p. 34586).
In Re-examining Reclassification: Guidance from a National Working Session on Policies and Practices
for Exiting Students from English Learner Status, authors Linquanti and Cook (2015) examine
issues and options associated with reclassifying ELs to fluent English proficient (R-FEP) status. 2 In
particular, the report describes issues and tensions surrounding current EL reclassification policies
and practices, and offers guidance to districts, states, and multi-state consortia for moving toward
more common EL reclassification criteria. Several findings and recommendations from that report
motivate this guidance document. In the following section, we briefly review these specific findings
and recommendations.3

CCSSO established the Task Force with funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and in-kind
support from the Understanding Language initiative of Stanford University and the WIDA Consortium.
2
This report summarized and developed ideas discussed at one of the national working sessions referenced above.
3
See full report for all nine recommendations derived from deliberations of national working session
participants (Linquanti, Cook, Bailey, & MacDonald, 2016, pp. 93-104).
1

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

Rationale
In their survey of state reclassification criteria, Linquanti and Cook (2015) found that 29 states
and the District of Columbia use a single criterionthe states English language proficiency (ELP)
testfor determining which EL students exit EL status. The remaining 21 states use between two
and four exit criteria, including academic content test achievement (17 states), teacher input or
evaluation (15 states), and some form of parental notification or consultation (six states).
The national working session participants supported several recommendations regarding the
reclassification of ELs that provide a rationale for developing the present guidance document.
First, participants recommended that states and districts should select reclassification criteria that
directly relate to students uses of language needed to carry out grade-level practices in academic
content areas and to meet grade-level content standards.
Language-intensive practices (e.g., constructing arguments from evidence and critiquing others
reasoning; providing detailed explanations and communicating information; seeking clarification
and building on what others say in oral exchanges, etc.) are central to college- and careerready content standards, and many ELP standards implicitly or explicitly address them. As these
practices entail more interactive and strategic uses of language, large-scale standardized testing
approaches are less able to appropriately sample such target language uses in a single, annual
administration.
Locally gathering and evaluating evidence of student language uses in a standardized, comparable
way is challenging, yet doing so would capture valuable complementary evidence that illuminates
EL students language uses while they engage in classroom-based learning. Such evidence can also
help educators better recognize and foster students discipline-specific uses of language across
the content areas.
Second, national working session participants recommended that states should establish the
English proficient performance standard on the state ELP assessment using methods that take
account of EL students academic proficiency on content assessments, while not requiring a
minimum level of performance on academic content assessments for exit.
Empirical methods that examine the relationship between EL students performance on ELP and
academic content assessments have become widely used in recent years to establish an English
proficient performance standard on the state ELP assessment. These methods help determine the
range of performance on an ELP assessment where EL students academic content achievement in
English becomes less related to their ELP level.4 That is, the methods identify a performance range
where students level of English language proficiency no longer appears to inhibit meaningful
participation in state academic assessments.

See Cook, Linquanti, Chinen, & Jung (2012), pp. 728, for discussion and demonstration of empirical methods
to determine a range of ELP performance that can support policy deliberations on performance standard setting.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

Proposed federal regulations for implementing ESSA align fully with this recommendation. The
regulations state specifically that scores on content assessments cannot be included as part of
a States [EL] exit criteria (p. 34587) as these assessments are neither designed nor intended
to support inferences about EL students English language proficiency, and may contribute to
classification errors. Indeed, many monolingual English speakers do not attain the academic
achievement performance standard on these assessments that some state and local education
agencies require of ELs for exit from EL status.
Third, national working session participants recommended that states and districts should make EL
reclassification decisions using more than an annual summative ELP assessment result; they should
also examine EL students classroom language uses as an additional reclassification criterion.
Professional standards of educational and psychological testing (American Educational Research
Association, American Psychological Association, and National Council on Measurement in
Education [AERA/APA/NCME], 2014, pp. 198-199) clearly stipulate that high-stakes decisions
regarding studentsparticularly educational program placement and provision of services for
English learnersshould not be made based on a single test score, and that other relevant
information constituting complementary evidence is warranted.
In addition, the current federal definition of an EL (ESSA 8101(20)) explicitly notes EL students
language proficiency should be sufficiently developed so they are not denied the ability to
successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English.
These recommendations reflect a consensus view of national working session participants that EL
reclassification policies and practices can and should be strengthened, made more coherent, and
standardized within states in ways that enable local educatorsthose closest to EL studentsto
meaningfully participate in making reclassification decisions. Session participants suggested that
states could strengthen reclassification practices and ensure educator participation by developing
and implementing statewide, standardized processes and tools for gathering evidence about
students classroom language uses. These could provide needed complementary evidence of more
interactive, discipline-specific, process-related, and classroom-based language uses that are not
adequately captured by annual, large-scale, summative ELP assessments.
Participants expressed strong consensus on the importance of gathering evidence of ELs language
uses in the classroom to support judgments about students ability to achieve in classrooms where
the language of instruction is English. Specifically, they saw value in providing teachers of ELs with
opportunities to systematically examine students language uses posited in the new ELP standards
in ways that could yield complementary evidence useful for reclassification decisions. In effect, the
participants considered this to be other relevant information about the student, as expressed in
the AERA/APA/NCME professional standards.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

Guidelines on Developing and Implementing Evidence-Gathering Processes

and Tools for Observing Classroom Language Uses
During the 2014 national working session discussions, participants suggested the following guidelines
related to the development and implementation of evidence-gathering processes and tools on classroom
language uses:

1. Evidence gathered should be complementary to, and not duplicative of, language uses targeted
on the state ELP assessment.

2. Evidence of classroom language uses should be student-focused, assets-based (i.e., describing

what EL students can do with English); relevant and pedagogically useful for classroom teachers;
meaningful and helpful to students; and developed for use by both ESL and academic content
area teachers.

3. Evidence-gathering methods should help educators regularly examine and recognize a range of
proficiencies in target language uses and not just focus at the level of performance considered to
be English-proficient for reclassification.

4. Evidence-gathering processes and tools should be useful throughout the year for formative
purposes (i.e., to gather evidence of student strengths and growth areas in using language,
provide descriptive feedback to students, and help teachers extend students language uses and
disciplinary learning).

5. Evidence-gathering processes and tools should be used within a specific assessment window
for summative purposes (e.g., reclassification decisions), and particularly as a more standardized
method to implement teacher judgment/recommendation criteria.

6. Substantial professional development and sustained administrative support are critical to successfully
implementing locally-administered language use observation processes and tools statewide. This
includes a mechanism for effectively calibrating professional judgments among teachers.

National working session participants and educators reviewing our illustrative tools also identified the
following potential challenges in systematically collecting classroom-level evidence about ELs classroom
language uses:

1. Using the same evidence-gathering processes and tools during the year for formative purposes
and at the end of the year for summative purposesespecially if the latter is associated with
high-stakes accountability decisions and indicatorscould unintentionally undermine the use
and utility of the processes and tools.

2. Incorporating classroom-based language use evidence in EL reclassification decisions might be

difficultor even prohibitedin states that (a) currently use only the ELP test for reclassification
decisions; and/or (b) use English proficiency attainment or EL reclassification rates as part of teacher
evaluation. In some instances, using classroom-based evidence may require changes in state law.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

3. Systematically collecting and appropriately analyzing classroom-based evidence of language

uses requires time and commitment to training and implementation, potentially generating
additional responsibilities for academic subject matter and ESL teachers. While the collection
and use of this complementary classroom evidence might strengthen EL teaching and learning
as well as EL reclassification processes, it may require shifts in educator roles and responsibilities,
and resource allocation at district and school levels.

These concerns notwithstanding, several states have expressed interest in exploring ways to systematically
collect complementary evidence that allows for valid inferences about ELs classroom-based language
uses, and integrating this evidence with state ELP assessment results in EL reclassification decisions.
This document supplements CCSSOs published framework and guidance documents on moving toward
a more common EL definition. Specifically, we intend to do the following:

Describe how states might develop standardized methods that local educators can use to gather
and interpret evidence of EL students classroom language uses;

Suggest how states might ensure this evidence targets more interactive, discipline-specific, and
classroom-based language uses found in state ELP standards; is complementary to that of the
states annual ELP assessment; and is appropriately used in decisions to reclassify EL students; and

Offer an illustrative prototype of tools states might develop in collaboration with local educators
to collect and evaluate ELs classroom language uses, including a sample observation sheet and
sample rubrics.

There are two important caveats regarding these proposed uses. First, the tools illustrated here are simply
examples; they are neither designed nor intended to be implemented directly as local decision-making
metrics. In accordance with ESSA provisions, states should develop such tools in collaboration with local
districts, and provide extensive guidelines and support to ensure valid and consistent application within
and across districts in a state. Second, the process described for creating these tool prototypes should
be considered illustrative of the many possible approaches a state might take to develop such resources
with a representative group of partner districts.

Approach to Developing the Sample Evidence-Gathering Processes

and Tools
We developed this guidance document with substantial input from educators of ELs over a period of
several months. We presented the processes and tools to K-12 administrators, academic subject-matter
teachers, and ESL teachers in New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin. We asked teachers in
both elementary and secondary schools across these states to pilot the tools with their EL students, and
subsequently engaged these educators in focus group discussions. We solicited feedback about the
feasibility, usefulness, and thoroughness of the proposed processes and accompanying sample tools. We
then successively revised the processes and tools based on the input we received.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

Guidelines for Gathering and Analyzing Evidence of Classroom-Based

Language Uses
The use of classroom-based evidence to complement standardized, large-scale, summative ELP
assessment provides educators with a direct window into how students use language in classroombased learning. By design, summative ELP assessments elicit a sample of students language uses to
compare to established benchmarks along a trajectory of increasing proficiency in academic uses of
English, and provide information at a large grain size. Educators can use this information to determine
initial program placement, monitor ELP growth and attainment, and support reclassification decisions.
Summative assessments, however, are not well suited for assessing more strategic and collaborative
language uses, or for informing timely classroom-based decisions that support students language
development. Classroom-based evidence of language uses illuminates the range of students
responses to the demands of specific instructional tasks and learning opportunities, thus providing
critically important information that can support inferences about ELs potential to participate and
succeed in classrooms with minimal or no specialized language support. Moreover, systematically
collecting classroom-based evidence enables educators to note and foster students language use
relative to key practices over time and across contexts such as tasks, instructional units, or content
areas (Heritage et al., 2013).

Where should the evidence come from?

Given the situated nature of language use and proficiency, evidence should come from several content
areas. At a minimum this includes the three content areas whose assessment is required under ESSA:
reading/English language arts (R/ELA), mathematics, and science. Educators can streamline evidence
gathering by collecting one type of evidence from each content area (e.g., samples of writing in science,
observations of collaborative interactions in math, etc.). Teachers should be given sufficient time to collect
this evidence (e.g., one to two months). This will allow for more sustained observations and evidence
collection that is representative of what students can do with language. It will also allow for discussions of
student language-use evidence and artifacts in cases when more than one teacher is involved.

What kinds of language uses should the evidence represent?

As suggested by national working session participants, classroom-based evidence should illuminate
students uses of language as they engage in the grade-level practices of academic content areas. These
practices are typically described in content standards directly, or in ancillary documents. For example,
the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (National Governors Association [NGA] and CCSSO,
2010) specify eight mathematical practices (including make sense of problems and persevere in solving
them and construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others). The Next Generation
Science Standards (NGSS, 2013) specify several science and engineering practices key to students
engagement in and understanding of science (including plan and carry out investigations, obtain,
evaluate, and communicate information, and engage in argument from evidence). The College,
Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies (National Council for the Social Studies [NCSS],
2013) define four dimensions that support a robust social studies program rooted in inquiry (including

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

developing disciplinary concepts and tools and evaluating sources and using evidence). While the
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts do not explicitly specify disciplinary practices,
key practices embedded in these standards, derived by a national team of language experts (CCSSO,
2012, p.11) include produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience, and build upon the ideas of others and articulate their
own [ideas] when working collaboratively.
Gathering evidence of ELs language uses as they engage in such disciplinary practices increases the
likelihood that the observed language uses will be discipline-specific. For example, observing a student
making sense of a mathematical problem can provide evidence specific to the students language uses
in mathematics. Additionally, a focus on language uses in disciplinary practices affords the opportunity
to leverage open-ended and intellectually engaging tasks that are more conducive to sustained and
extensive language use, since such tasks encourageeven requirestudents to express ideas, construct
explanations, argue from evidence, and negotiate meaning with others.

Which language domains should the collected evidence address?

Given the importance of effective communication and collaborative interactions in college- and careerready standards, national working session participants advocated that classroom evidence should
document how ELs use language to interact and collaborate with peers. This evidence addresses primarily
students speaking and listening competencies in the context of collaborative learning. To the best of our
knowledge, no standardized, large-scale K-12 ELP assessment is designed to adequately measure these
aspects of language use.
In addition to collecting evidence of students interactions in collaborative learning contexts, educators
should collect and analyze evidence of student writing. We recommend this for three reasons. First,
writing is integral to many disciplinary practices across the content areas, which emphasize producing
texts that effectively communicate ideas and persuade with evidence. Second, ELs effectiveness in
writing is an increasingly important component of their ability to develop and demonstrate conceptual
understandings of disciplinary ideas. Third, large-scale, summative ELP assessments usually assess
writing that students produce on-demand during a fixed period. Alternatively, portfolios of student
writing can illustrate how students ideas and language uses develop over time and across settings, as
students work in collaboration with others (e.g., in writing group observations in science or taking notes
during a book group discussion in ELA) and individually (in composing drafts on their own). Evaluating
students classroom-produced writing can therefore provide an important complement to large-scale
annual assessments of written English language proficiency.
Regarding the domain of reading, we are reluctant to recommend that educators gather additional
classroom-based observational evidence. First, educators indicated to us that they already gather and
use evidence from multiple assessments targeting a range of reading competencies (e.g., comprehension
and fluency), especially in the elementary grades.5 Second, assessing reading comprehension typically
involves EL students speaking or writing, which increases the complexity of observing and accurately
National working session participants strongly emphasized that the classroom evidence educators are asked
to collect should be complementary and non-duplicative of information already being collected.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

evaluating reading comprehension. Thus, while we do not describe processes or offer sample tools for
collecting additional evidence on reading, the sample language rubrics we provide (see appendices B
and C) includes descriptors for the reading domain to assist educators in interpreting reading-related
evidence they already collect from a language development perspective.

How should educators evaluate the gathered evidence?

When evaluating evidence of classroom language uses as part of reclassification decision-making,
teachers need to refer to statewide benchmarks for EL reclassification. As noted above, USEDs proposed
regulations expressly prohibit states from allowing non-standardized local option reclassification criteria
(Federal Register, op. cit., p. 34586). Therefore, in developing processes and tools for use statewide, state
education agency (SEA) personnel will need to work closely with district and school leaders to establish
and employ a rigorous validation process for determining what constitutes adequate evidence, how tools
can be standardized for use by educators statewide, and how evaluation criteria can be applied fairly.
Given that ESSA requires states to establish and implement standardized statewide EL exit procedures
and criteria with timely and meaningful consultation with local educational agencies (ESSA 3111(b)(2)
(A); 3113(b)(2)), this approach is supported by the law itself.
The development and refinement of statewide processes and tools for observing and evaluating EL
students classroom language uses should occur in iterative stages over time. This approach can strengthen
evidence-gathering processes and tools, and ensure fairness in their application. For example, when
evaluating evidence of ELs language uses, it is important that state and local leaders consider both the
language demands of content standards reflected in state ELP standards, and the classroom language
uses typical of non-EL students. In other words, educators should evaluate ELs language uses in the
context of state ELP standards less amenable to large-scale summative assessment, and relative to the
current language uses of ELs English-proficient peers.
In developing a statewide reclassification criterion related to classroom language uses, state and local
leaders might consider the following steps:

1. Determine the target language demands of key standards-based learning tasks that students
will engage in while complementary evidence is gathered. State and local leaders should agree
on what the content and related ELP standards to be addressed expect students to do with
language. The ELP standards can then guide leaders in determining what language students
need to process and produce to meet standards-based expectations.

2. Collect evidence from multiple EL and non-EL students as they engage in the selected learning
tasks. Preferably, this evidence will include students who are (a) at a range of proficiency levels
(ELP for ELs and content proficiency for non-ELs) and (b) enrolled in different districts. State and
local leaders should gather all evidence using the same processes and tools (e.g., observation
sheets, observation protocols, portfolios, etc.).

3. Evaluate the gathered evidence from both EL and non-EL students using the same data analysis
tools (e.g., rubrics, rating scales, etc.).

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Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

4. Reflect on the similarities and differences in target language uses demonstrated by non-EL and
EL students, and the importance of each target language use for EL students full participation in
classroom learning and academic success.

5. Set statewide benchmarks for the English-proficient performance standard deemed sufficient for
EL reclassification referencing the data analysis tools employed.

6. Provide training and calibration materials to teachers across the state, ideally accessible online to
facilitate consistent training and calibration.

The approach outlined above can facilitate collaboration among state and local leaders as stipulated in
ESSA, and help establish a statewide, standardized, classroom-based reclassification criterion. Setting an
English-proficient performance standard at the state level promotes consistent judgments statewide and
relieves teachers of collecting evidence from non-EL students locally.

Who should collect and analyze the evidence?

Following the recommendations of the national working session participants, both academic subject
matter and ESL teachers should collect and analyze evidence of EL students language uses. Although
teachers (especially at the secondary level) may collect evidence separately, analyzing and judging
evidence collaboratively has the following advantages: it can strengthen content teachers awareness
of EL students language uses and opportunities; heighten ESL teachers understanding of disciplinary
language uses and literacies expected across the content areas; and foster opportunities for coherence
and alignment in lesson learning goals. Analyzing evidence collaboratively can also provide a more
complete picture of EL students language uses, as students may have varying opportunities to display
language competencies across different content areas. Finally, collaborative analysis of evidence can
strengthen reclassification decisions.

How should states support teachers in gathering and analyzing evidence?

As recommended by national working session participants, all teachers need training in order to
effectively collect and analyze evidence of ELs classroom language uses. Academic subject matter and
ESL teachers we consulted also suggested that teachers would require training to use the evidencegathering and evaluation tools confidently and reliably. They noted that many aspects of the processes
outlined (e.g., collecting multiple drafts of written assignments, observing discipline-specific practices
from a language use perspective, and evaluating interactive language uses) may not be part of educators
existing practices.
Once state and district leaders develop statewide, standardized processes and tools, the next step is to
carry out local calibration training and implementation. For example, a language specialist in a leadership
position could oversee local teacher training. This training must be sufficient and recurring so that new
and continuing teachers and administrators can develop and deepen their understanding of disciplinespecific language uses and language development, and build their capacity to use the tools. Stateprovided materials for local training might include: (a) online video samples and artifacts of student target
language uses, illustrative of different levels of English language proficiency, for educator practice and
Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language
Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

certification; (b) videos of educators interpreting classroom evidence of EL students language uses; and
(c) facilitation guides for calibration discussions among educators. Such resources can support academic
subject matter and ESL educators as they collect and collaboratively analyze evidence of EL students
classroom language uses.

Recommended Strategies for Gathering Evidence

We recommend that in utilizing local evidence in a statewide, standardized reclassification process,
educators use at least the two sources of evidence described below.

Observation to Gather Evidence of Interactive Language Uses

To begin to understand how a student uses language to interact with peers during grade-level disciplinebased classroom tasks, teachers can video-record or observe students.6 Recording has the advantage
of preserving the interaction but the potential drawback of being off-putting and/or distracting for
students.7 Teachers should consider conducting regular observations of student interactions so that
students become accustomed to the process, as well as for validity purposes (see below).
With regard to using these processes and tools for summative decisions (e.g., reclassification), we
recommend that teachers conduct repeated (two to four) observations of a student engaged in
interaction in order to compile a sufficiently rich picture of the multiple ways in which that student uses
language to accomplish subject matter tasks and communicative goals. Language use is dependent
on the task, purpose, interlocutors, setting, and other factors. Teachers should therefore observe a
student engaging in various activities (e.g., student- and teacher-led interactions, paired and small
group discussions, collaborative explorations, joint presentations, etc.). Beyond the summative
window, teachers can use the same processes and tools to gather and analyze evidence of student
language uses for formative purposes.
To facilitate a collaborative review and discussion of classroom evidence, both academic subject matter
and ESL teachers should collect evidence of a students language uses. The academic subject matter
teacher may need to observe the student several times while the ESL teacher may only need to do so
once (since the ESL teacher will likely be familiar with the students interactive uses of language in the
ESL classroom setting). When educators in both roles actively collect evidence of the students language
uses in the same content area classroom, they can compare and discuss their assessment of the students
uses of language in a particular discipline. If one teacher fulfills both academic subject matter and ESL
instructional responsibilities (e.g., in a self-contained elementary classroom or a bilingual instructional
setting), the teacher might invite a colleague to help collect and analyze evidence. Ideally, this colleague
would be knowledgeable about second language development. This collaborative analysis of evidence
may also strengthen the validity of inferences made.

Audio recordings of group discourse, sometimes used for ease of collection and privacy protection, can make
it difficult to distinguish the contributions of different students.
7
Privacy issues may also necessitate prior approval from parents/guardians and site/district leadership.
6

10

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Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

A Student Portfolio to Gather Evidence of Literacy-based Language Uses

Teachers can compile a portfolio of student work as evidence of a students language uses in writing. The
portfolio should contain a range of texts that are part of the same assignment (notes, graphic organizers,
sequential drafts, etc.). Since elementary students typically compose shorter texts when completing
assignments, we recommend that the portfolio include three to five assignments at the elementary
level and two to three assignments at the secondary level. The portfolio should consist of assignments
completed with minimal or no language supports available only to EL students.
We recommend that students help select the assignments that make up their portfolio. The student and
the ESL teacher that works with him/her the most should choose the assignments, with input from the
academic subject matter teacher who gave the assignment.
As previously noted, portfolio evidence should be evaluated through a collaborative process involving
academic subject matter and ESL teachers who employ a shared evaluation tool.

Considering Student and Family Perspectives in the Reclassification Process

Reclassification is a high-stakes decision for students and their families even when a change in status from
EL to English proficient does not bring about an immediate change in instructional services or program.
The change from EL to non-EL status signals that educators have sufficient evidence that the student
can participate comparably to their non-EL peers and learn effectively in the classroom, in English,
with minimal or no specialized language support. Just as students and families should understand the
rationale for students receiving EL status and the additional, specialized services that come with it, so
too should they be informed when the student has met specified exit criteria. Students and families
should have an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns related to removal of EL status and
accompanying services. This should be a standardized process, using a protocol that (a) clearly explains
what will change programmatically and instructionally for the student; and (b) clearly documents questions
and concerns that EL students or their parent/guardian may have related to an exit decision, and steps
taken to address these questions and concerns. EL students meeting statewide, standardized exit criteria
should be reclassified. Only in rare cases where there is a compelling educational reason, supported by
documented evidence, should such students remain in EL status.

Sample Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Evidence

Appendices A, B, and C provide state and local educators with concrete examples of the kinds of tools
they can develop to collect and analyze evidence of students classroom-based language uses for both
formative and summative (reclassification) purposes. Samples include an observation sheet and two
versions of a language use rubric (one with three and the other with six descriptors per proficiency level).
These tools are only examples. State and local educators will need to adapt and/or extend these sample
tools, or develop equivalent tools that best meet their needs for collecting and analyzing evidence of
classroom language uses. We provide a brief description of each tool below.

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Observation Sheet
The observation sheet (see appendix A) allows educators to characterize the language produced by
an EL during interactions, and to contextualize this by noting opportunities for language use provided
by the teacher and the language produced by the students peers. The observation sheet also allows
the observer to characterize what students do with language (such as initiate a discussion or ask for
clarification), as well as to document actual language used. Both the action accomplished through
language, and students actual language, are important components of language proficiency.

Language Use Rubric

To illustrate the type of tool that educators might use when analyzing evidence of classroom language
uses, we provide two sample language rubrics, a short rubric and an expanded rubric (see appendices B
and C, respectively). We used the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Council of
Europe, 2001) as a foundation for the sample rubrics because its descriptors are research-based, assetfocused, and context-specific, and it is independent of any state or assessment consortium. The labels
for the language proficiency levels in the sample rubrics correspond to the Reference Performance Level
Descriptors in Cook and MacDonald (2014).
The sample rubrics describe student language uses across the K-12 grade span. As a result, some of the
higher-level descriptors may not apply to students in early grades. The low, moderate, and high
labels are not intended to be statements about an individual students English language proficiency.
Rather, they are proxies for stages on a continuum of second language development. For example, the
low level descriptors may be developmentally appropriate for a younger student and describe the
expected performance of his/her non-EL peers.
A distinguishing feature of the rubrics is that they emphasize what students can do with language,
encompass language uses from word to discourse, genre and narrative, and address multiple dimensions
of language proficiency (e.g., quantity, complexity, coherence, and accuracy). Given that the rubrics
capture multiple dimensions, a students language uses may not always fall under the same proficiency
level descriptor (or column) in the rubric. In other words, a students control of grammatical forms may
be at the moderate level while he/she may be at the high level in meeting genre expectations for
narratives. It is also likely that a students language uses in the same dimension (or row) of the rubric may
straddle two levels.
We include two sample rubrics to acknowledge the range of educator background knowledge and the
multiple potential uses of the tool. Educators who reviewed these rubrics expressed varying opinions on the
number of descriptors needed to best evaluate a students language uses; some preferred three proficiency
level descriptors and judged six to be overwhelming, while others found three proficiency level descriptors
insufficient to confidently evaluate a students language uses and progress. In addition to the variation in
educator background in evaluating language, there are multiple uses for these types of tools. For example,
one of the rubrics may be more useful for formative (ongoing) assessment of a students language uses,
while the other may lend itself to language use assessment for summative purposes.

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Considerations When Analyzing Evidence

The interpretation of evidence necessarily involves evaluation and judgment. As educators interpret
collected evidence of students classroom language uses, they should consider the following contextual
dimensions of that evidence.

Level of Independence
The language students use depends on the invitations, supports, and resources made available to them
and the multiple ways in which they do (and do not) take advantage of these opportunities and resources.
In evaluating student language uses, educators should consider the following questions:

What invitations, supports, and resources did the student have when engaging in an assignment
or participating in a task?

Were similar opportunities and resources available to non-EL peers as well (even if they did not
take advantage of them)?

Would similar opportunities and resources be made available to the student if they were not
classified as EL or were not receiving EL-related language support services?

Prior Subject-Area Knowledge

Students performance in the classroom depends on multiple factors. Among these is their prior knowledge
of the content, which can be determined by engaging students in activities that reveal their relevant
background knowledge and familiarity with the topic at hand. (If students are newcomers, these activities
should allow for use of the students dominant language.) If students have robust prior knowledge, they
may be able to engage on a par with their non-EL peers even if their English language proficiency is still
emerging. In these cases, students may be able to more fully leverage the instructional tasks in which they
participate to develop target language uses rather than focus primarily on content understanding (which
they may already have). Building background knowledge ensures that students can engage sufficiently with
the content-related task, and devote more cognitive resources to second language use and production.
It is important for teachers to recognize that all EL students can engage in content practices and learning
with their emerging language, and comprehend and carry out sophisticated language functions using
less-than-perfect English. By engaging in such practices, EL students can simultaneously build on their
content area understandings and their language proficiency (NGSS, 2013).

Continuum of Language Support after Reclassification

While reclassification decisions should be based on the careful and valid analysis of relevant evidence, educators
should also consider how academic subject matter classrooms can provide ongoing opportunities for former EL
students to continue developing sophisticated language uses. Developing mastery in academic English is an
ongoing endeavor for all students. In classrooms where this is recognized, recently exited ELslike all students
receive language learning support and development opportunities that are matched to and continually expand
their language competencies. This is particularly important in light of new federal requirements to monitor and
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report the academic achievement of former ELs during each of the four years after their exit from EL status. It is
therefore particularly important to determine the academic schedule and supports that best facilitate recently
reclassified students continued English language development and academic success.

Combining Multiple Sources of Evidence for Reclassification

Decision-Making
States will need to set clear policies and procedures for helping local educators combine two or more sources
of complementary evidence of English language proficiency in ways that allow for consistent and appropriate
reclassification decisions. Linquanti and Cook (2015) propose and illustrate a sample reclassification decision
matrix, combining multiple sources of ELP evidence, and including approaches for judging borderline and
ambiguous cases.8 While we do not restate these here, note that these decision rules are critically important,
and should ensure that decisions are responsive and appropriate to the ongoing learning needs of students,
whether or not they remain classified as EL. As required by ESSA, states should conduct ongoing monitoring
of students on either side of the reclassification line to ensure that EL students are neither prematurely exited,
nor retained in EL status longer than is appropriate.

Concluding Thoughts: Using Complementary Evidence in

Reclassification Decisions
We developed this guidance in response to a national working session of educators and other stakeholders
convened to discuss ways of strengthening and standardizing statewide EL reclassification policies and
practices. These state and local educators, technical assistance providers, EL researchers, and policy advisers
articulated the need for (a) complementary evidence of more interactive language uses not captured by largescale, summative ELP assessments; and (b) opportunities for local educatorsthose closest to EL students
to meaningfully participate in reclassification decision-making. We have attempted to honor their insights
and suggestions, and offer sample processes and tools that can inform state efforts to develop more robust
reclassification policies and procedures. We shared these draft processes and tools with educators in multiple
districts and states, and revised them based on their feedback.
The timing of this guidance is particularly salient in light of ESSA provisions that largely support recommendations
made by the national working session participants. ESSA calls for standardized statewide EL entry and exit
procedures. Draft regulations, if enacted, would require that states use consistent exit criteria and evidence
related specifically to English language proficiency. In line with professional standards of educational testing,
we maintain that additional sources of evidence complementary to large-scale annual ELP assessments are
necessary to ensure valid inferences and appropriate educational decisions for a group of students that are
a protected class under federal law. The kinds of tools and processes discussed in this document not only
provide this complementary evidence to strengthen decision-making; they can also build educators capacity
to discern, assess, and foster what English learners can do with language while developing conceptual
understandings and engaging in disciplinary practices in subject matter classrooms.
This includes addressing possible measurement error and illustrating evidence-combination approaches that
are compensatory with conjunctive minimums. See Linquanti et al. (2016), p. 99-101.

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References
Abedi, J. (2008). Classification system for English language learners: Issues and recommendations.
Educational Measurement: Issues and Practices, 27(3), 1722.
American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council
on Measurement in Education (AERA/APA/NCME). (2014). The standards for educational and
psychological testing. Washington DC: Author.
Cook, H.G., Linquanti, R., Chinen, M., & Jung, H. (2012). National evaluation of Title III implementation
supplemental report: Exploring approaches to setting English language proficiency performance
criteria and monitoring English learner progress. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education,
Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2012). Framework for English language proficiency development
standards corresponding to the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science
Standards. Washington DC: Author.
Council of Europe. (2001). Common European Framework of reference for language learning, teaching
and assessment. Strasbourg: Language Policy Division: Author. Retrieved from http://www.coe.
int/t/dg4/linguistic/Source/Framework_EN.pdf.
Federal Register. (2016). Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every
Student Succeeds Actaccountability and state plans; proposed rule. (v. 81, n. 104, May 31), Part
III, 34540-34621. Department of Education, 34 CFR Parts 200 and 299.
Heritage, M., Walqui, A., & Linquanti, R. (2013). Formative assessment as contingent teaching and
learning: Perspectives on assessment as and for language learning in the content areas. Palo Alto,
CA: Stanford University Understanding Language Initiative.
Linquanti, R., & Cook, H. G. (2015). Re-examining reclassification: Guidance from a national working
session on policies and practices for exiting students from English learner status. Washington DC:
Council of Chief State School Officers.
Linquanti, R., Cook, H. G., Bailey, A. L., & MacDonald, R. (2016). Moving toward a more common
definition of English learner: Collected guidance for states and multi-state assessment consortia.
Washington DC: Council of Chief State School Officers.
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). (2013). The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3)
Framework for Social Studies State Standards: Guidance for enhancing the rigor of K-12 civics,
economics, geography, and history. Silver Spring, MD: Author.

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Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

15

National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers,
(2010). Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. Washington D.C.: Authors.
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers.
(2010). Common Core State Standards for English language arts and literacy in history/social
studies, science, and technical subjects. Washington, DC: Authors.
NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC:
The National Academies Press.
U.S. Department of Education (USED). (2010). Race to the Top Assessment program guidance and
frequently asked questions. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/
programs/racetothetop-assessment/faqs.pdf.

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Appendix A
Language Use Observation Sheet
Student name: _______________________________________________________________ Date:__________________________________
Observer:_________________________________________________________________ Subject: __________________________________
Topic: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Learning Goal: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Activity

Interaction
Listens and follows along Responds to teacher only

Whole class:
Teacher-directed interaction
(such as modeling, debriefing)
Student-directed interaction
(such as presentation, debate)
Pair or small group:
Students working independently
Students working together
(no or intermittent teacher facilitation)
Students working together, facilitated by the teacher

Classroom language used in the observed lesson

Teacher elicits student responses that are mostly
Words/phrases A sentence Connected sentences

Initiates a discussion/introduces a topic, different opinion,

and so on
Works to make his/her ideas comprehensible and
available to others
Builds on previous turns to build up ideas, meaning,
or understanding
Helps manage others participation in the discussion (such
as by inviting others to join in, outlining an
issue clearly)
Responds to unexpected/spontaneous questions
appropriately
Asks for clarification
Provides clarification
Repairs misunderstandings (such as by backtracking,
reformulating
Other: _______________________________________________
Actual language spoken:

Non-ELLs use mostly

Words/phrases A sentence Connected sentences
Observed student uses mostly
Words/phrases A sentence Connected sentences
To what extent does the observed student use language
in the ways expected for the task?
All or most of the time Some of the time Rarely
Notes:

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Appendix B
Rubric for evaluating language uses: Interaction, listening, speaking, and reading

Moderate

High

Interaction

Can engage in very short social

exchanges, and sustain the
conversation with substantial
support. Can communicate
in simple and routine tasks
requiring a simple and direct
exchange of information on
familiar topics and activities,
possibly using provided
language frames or structures.

Can function in most social

situations in the classroom.
Can enter unprepared in
conversation on topics that are
familiar, of personal interest,
or connected to everyday life.
Can use provided language
frames or structures as models
for original expression.

Can use language

spontaneously, flexibly, and
effectively for social and
academic purposes. Can
formulate ideas and opinions
with precision and relate
contributions skillfully to those
of other speakers.

Can understand the main point

in simple messages in slow and
clear standard speech. Can
understand phrases and high
frequency vocabulary related
to familiar topics.

Can understand the main

points in slow and clear
standard speech on familiar
topics in discussions,
presentations, and educational
videos.

Can understand extended

speech even when it is not
clearly structured and when
relationships are only implied
and not signaled explicitly.

Can use a series of connected

phrases and short, simple
sentences to talk in simple
terms about familiar topics.

Can connect phrases to talk

about familiar topics using
simple sentences. Can briefly
give reasons and explanations
for reactions, opinions, and
plans.

Can present clear, detailed

descriptions of complex
subjects integrating subthemes, developing particular
points, and finishing with an
appropriate conclusion.

Can read very short, simple

texts and find specific,
predictable information in
everyday materials (such
as advertisements, letters,
schedules, and menus).

Can understand texts with

a familiar organization that
include high frequency
content-specific language.
Begins to understand some
idiomatic expressions and
words/phrases with multiple
meanings.

Can understand long and

complex fiction and non-fiction
texts on unfamiliar topics,
appreciating distinctions of
style.

Reading

Speaking

Low

Listening

The students command of language indicates to most audiences that he/she:

18

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Rubric for evaluating language uses: Written expression

The students command of language indicates to most audiences that he/she:

Phrase
Narratives
Reports & Essays
Arguments

Accuracy: Genre

Accuracy: Genre

Accuracy: Genre

Accuracy:
Grammar/
Sentence

Accuracy: Word/

Expansion of
Repertoires:
Cohesion

Low

Moderate

High

Can link groups of words with

simple connectors like and,
but, and because.

Can link simple and discrete

elements into a connected,
linear sequence of points. Uses
similar language to describe
different relationships between
ideas (such as additive, causal,
sequential, comparative, or
conditional).

Can produce clear, smoothly

flowing, well-structured
speech, showing controlled
use of a range of organizational
patterns, connectors, and
cohesive devices.

Can use basic sentence

patterns with memorized
phrases, groups of a few
words, and formulae in
order to communicated
limited information in familiar
situations.

Can use more varied

vocabulary that extends
beyond the everyday to
include some content-specific
vocabulary. Can express him/
herself with some hesitation
and circumlocutions on familiar
topics.

Can strategically select

language to express him/
herself clearly in an appropriate
style on a wide range of
academic topics without having
to restrict what he/she wants
to say.

Can employ some simple

structures with minimal or
partial consistency. Formulates
short, simple sentences with a
predictable structure.

Uses reasonably accurately

a repertoire of frequently
used grammatical patterns
associated with predictable
situations. Uses mostly simple
sentences.

Maintains a high degree of

grammatical accuracy; errors
are rare, difficult to spot, and
generally corrected when
they occur. Uses a variety of
sentence structures.

Can use a series of simple

phrases and sentences on
familiar topics. Can use linked
sentences to provide very
short, basic descriptions of
events and experiences.

Can produce straightforward,

detailed descriptions on a
range of familiar subjects.
Can narrate experiences and
events, describing feelings and
reactions in simple connected
text.

Can put forth clear, smoothly

flowing stories and descriptions
of experiences in a style
appropriate to the genre
adopted. Uses language
effectively to draw in the
reader.

Can use a series of simple

phrases and sentences on
familiar topics. Can use linked
sentences to provide very
short, basic descriptions
of known opinions and
phenomena.

Can summarize, report,

and give his/her opinion
about accumulated factual
information on familiar topics
and following a standardized
format.

Can present information on

complex subjects in clear, wellstructured text, underlining
relevant salient issues.
Can expand and support
interpretations at some length
with subsidiary points, reasons,
and relevant examples.

Can express a point of

view on a familiar topic in a
series of simple sentences.
Can exchange basic factual
information and discuss
solutions to familiar problems
using simple linked sentences.

Can pass on routine factual

information and state reasons
for actions in brief text
following a standardized
format.

Can present arguments on

complex subjects in clear,
well-structured text that may
include counter argumentation.
Can support arguments at
some length with subsidiary
points, reasons, and relevant
examples.

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Appendix C
Expanded rubric for evaluating language uses: Interaction, listening, speaking, and reading

Listening

Interaction

The students command of language indicates to most audiences that he/she:

20

Low

Low+

Moderate

Moderate+

High

High+

Can interact in
a simple way
provided the
other person
is prepared
to repeat or
rephrase things
at a slower
rate of speech
and help
formulate what
the learner is
trying to say.
Can ask and
answer simple
questions
in areas of
immediate
need or on
very familiar
topics.

Can engage
in very
short social
exchanges,
and sustain the
conversation
with substantial
support. Can
communicate
in simple and
routine tasks
requiring
a simple
and direct
exchange of
information on
familiar topics
and activities,
possibly using
provided
language
frames or
structures.

Can function
in most social
situations in
the classroom.
Can enter
unprepared in
conversation
on topics that
are familiar,
of personal
interest, or
connected
to everyday
life. Can use
provided
language
frames or
structures
as models
for original
expression.

Can interact
with a degree
of fluency and
spontaneity
(without relying
on provided
language
frames or
structures) that
makes regular
interaction
with others
possible.
Can take an
active part
in academic
discussions
in familiar
contexts and
on familiar
topics,
accounting for
and sustaining
his/her views.

Can use
language
spontaneously,
flexibly, and
effectively
for social and
academic
purposes. Can
formulate ideas
and opinions
with precision
and relate
contributions
skillfully to
those of other
speakers.

Can take part

effortlessly
in any conversation and
discussion,
and has good
familiarity with
idiomatic expressions. Can
speak fluently
and convey
finer shades
of meaning
precisely. Can
quickly and
smoothly solve
any miscommunication
that becomes
apparent.

Can recognize
familiar words
and basic
phrases on
familiar topics
when people
speak slowly
and clearly.

Can
understand
the main point
in simple
messages
in slow and
clear standard
speech. Can
understand
phrases and
high frequency
vocabulary
related to
familiar topics.

Can
understand the
main points
in slow and
clear standard
speech on
familiar topics
in discussions,
presentations,
and
educational
videos.

Can
understand
extended
speech and
lectures,
presentations,
and videos and
follow even
complex lines
of argument
provided
the topic is
reasonably
familiar.

Can
understand
extended
speech even
when it is
not clearly
structured
and when
relationships
are only
implied and
not signaled
explicitly.

Has no
difficulty in
understanding
any kind
of spoken
language,
whether live
or broadcast,
even when
delivered at
fast speed.

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Can use a
series of
connected
phrases and
short, simple
sentences to
talk in simple
terms about
familiar topics.

Can connect
phrases to
talk about
familiar topics
using simple
sentences. Can
briefly give
reasons and
explanations
for reactions,
opinions, and
plans.

Can present
clear, detailed
descriptions on
a wide range
of familiar
subjects. Can
explain a
viewpoint on
a topical issue
giving the
advantages
and
disadvantages
of various
options.

Can present
clear, detailed
descriptions
of complex
subjects
integrating
sub-themes,
developing
particular
points, and
finishing with
an appropriate
conclusion.

Can present
clear, smoothly
flowing
description
or argument
in a style
appropriate
to the context
and with an
effective
structure,
which helps the
recipient notice
significant
points.

Can
understand
familiar names,
words, and
very simple
sentences,
for example
on visual
representations
with little text
(such as in
posters and
ads).

Can read very

short, simple
texts and
find specific,
predictable
information
in everyday
materials (such
as advertisements, letters,
schedules, and
menus).

Can
understand
texts with
a familiar
organization
that include
high frequency
contentspecific
language.
Begins to
understand
some idiomatic
expressions
and words/
phrases with
multiple
meanings.

Can
understand
non-fiction
texts on
unfamiliar
topics in
which the
writer adopts
a particular
attitude or
viewpoint.
Can identify
relevant
details in
contemporary
fiction.

Can
understand
long and
complex fiction
and nonfiction texts
on unfamiliar
topics,
appreciating
distinctions of
style.

Can read with

ease virtually
all forms
of written
language,
including
structurally or
linguistically
complex texts.

Reading

Speaking

Can use simple

phrases and
sentences
to describe
familiar topics.

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Expanded rubric for evaluating language uses: Written expression

The students command of language indicates to most audiences that he/she:

Accuracy:
22

Grammar/Sentence

Accuracy: Word/Phrase

Expansion of Repertoires: Cohesion

Low

Low+

Moderate

Moderate+

High

High+

Can link
words or
groups
of words
with very
basic linear
connectors
like and or
then.

Can link
groups of
words with
simple
connectors
like and,
but, and
because.

Can link simple

and discrete
elements into
a connected,
linear sequence
of points.
Uses similar
language
to describe
different
relationships
between
ideas (such
as additive,
causal,
sequential,
comparative, or
conditional).

Can use a
growing
number of
cohesive
devices to
link his/her
statements into
clear, coherent
discourse,
though there
may be some
jumpiness in
a longer text.

Can produce
clear, smoothly
flowing, wellstructured
speech,
showing
controlled use
of a range of
organizational
patterns,
connectors,
and cohesive
devices.

Can create
coherent
and cohesive
discourse
making full and
appropriate
use of a
variety of
organizational
patterns and
wide range of
connectors and
other cohesive
devices.

Can use high

frequency
words and
simple
phrases
related to
personal
details and
particular
concrete
situations.

Can use basic

sentence
patterns with
memorized
phrases,
groups of a
few words,
and formulae
in order to
communicated limited
information in
familiar situations.

Can use
more varied
vocabulary
that extends
beyond the
everyday to
include some
contentspecific
vocabulary.
Can express
him/herself
with some
hesitation and
circumlocutions
on familiar
topics.

Has sufficient
range of
language to
give clear
descriptions,
express
viewpoints
on most
general topics,
without much
conspicuous
searching for
words.

Can
strategically
select language
to express
him/herself
clearly in an
appropriate
style on a
wide range
of academic
topics without
having to
restrict what
he/she wants
to say.

Shows great
flexibility in
reformulating
ideas to
effectively
convey finer
shades of
meaning,
emphasize,
differentiate,
and clarify.
Uses
appropriately
many idiomatic
expressions.

Has some
control of a
few simple
grammatical
structures
and sentence
patterns in a
memorized
repertoire.

Can employ
some simple
structures
with minimal
or partial
consistency.
Formulates
short, simple
sentences
with a
predictable
structure.

Uses
reasonably
accurately a
repertoire of
frequently used
grammatical
patterns
associated with
predictable
situations. Uses
mostly simple
sentences.

Shows relatively high degree

of grammatical
control. Does
not make errors
that cause misunderstanding
and can correct
most of his/her
mistakes. Uses
simple and
some complex
sentences.

Maintains a
high degree of
grammatical
accuracy;
errors are rare,
difficult to spot,
and generally
corrected when
they occur.
Uses a variety
of sentence
structures.

Maintains
grammatical
accuracy when
using complex
language, even
when attention
is otherwise
engaged (e.g.,
in forward
planning or
monitoring
others
reactions).
Uses a range
of grammar
and sentence
structures
strategically.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

Narratives

Accuracy: Genre
Accuracy: Genre

Reports & Essays

Arguments

Accuracy: Genre

Can use
simple
phrases and
sentences
about familiar
topics.

Can use
a series
of simple
phrases and
sentences
on familiar
topics. Can
use linked
sentences to
provide very
short, basic
descriptions
of events and
experiences.

Can produce
straightforward, detailed
descriptions on
a range of familiar subjects.
Can narrate
experiences
and events,
describing feelings and reactions in simple
connected text.

Can produce
clear, detailed
descriptions
of experiences
and events.
Can follow
established
genre
conventions
in marking
relationships
between ideas
and organizing
the text.

Can put forth clear, smoothly

flowing stories and descriptions
of experiences in a style
appropriate to the genre
adopted. Uses language
effectively to draw in the reader.

Can use
simple
phrases and
sentences
about familiar
topics.

Can use
a series
of simple
phrases and
sentences
on familiar
topics. Can
use linked
sentences to
provide very
short, basic
descriptions
of known
opinions and
phenomena.

Can summarize,
report, and
give his/her
opinion about
accumulated
factual
information on
familiar topics,
following a
standardized
format.

Can develop
an idea with
appropriate
highlighting
of significant
points and
relevant
supporting
detail. Can
evaluate
different ideas
or solutions
to a problem
and synthesize
information
from a number
of sources.

Can present information on

complex subjects in clear, wellstructured text, underlining
relevant salient issues.
Can expand and support
interpretations at some length
with subsidiary points, reasons,
and relevant examples.

Can use
simple
phrases to
express an
opinion on a
familiar topic.

Can express
a point of
view on a
familiar topic
in a series
of simple
sentences.
Can
exchange
basic factual
information
and discuss
solutions
to familiar
problems
using simple
linked
sentences.

Can pass on
routine factual
information
and state
reasons for
actions in brief
text following
a standardized
format.

Can develop
an argument,
giving reasons
in support of
or against a
particular point
of view and
explain the
advantages
and
disadvantages
of various
options. Can
synthesize
arguments
from a number
of sources.

Can present arguments on

complex subjects in clear, wellstructured text that may include
counter argumentation. Can
support arguments at some
length with subsidiary points,
reasons, and relevant examples.

Discerning and Fostering What English Learners Can Do with Language

Guidance on Gathering and Interpreting Complementary Evidence of Classroom Language Uses for Reclassification Decisions

23

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