Improving Testing For English Language Learners

✍ Scribed by Rebecca Kopriva

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 365
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

More than any book to date, this one provides a comprehensive approach to designing, building, implementing and interpreting test results that validly measure the academic achievement of English language learners. It scaffolds the entire process of test development and implementation and discusses essential intervention points. The book provides the type of evidence-based guidance called for in federal mandates such as the NCLB legislation. Key features of this important new book include the following…

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Comprehensive – This book recommends methods for properly including ELLs throughout the entire test development process, addressing all essential steps from planning, item writing and reviews to analyses and reporting.

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Breadth and Depth of Coverage– Coverage includes discussion of the key issues, explanations and detailed instructions at each intervention point.

Research Focus – All chapters include an extensive review of current research.

Emerging Trends – The chapters summarize guidance appropriate for innovative computer-based assessments of the future as well as the paper-and-pencil tests of today.

This book is appropriate for anyone concerned with the development and implementation of fair and accurate testing programs for English language learners. This includes university based researchers, testing personel at the federal, state and local levels, teachers interested in better assessing their diverse student populations and those involved in the testing industry. It is also appropriate for instructors teaching undergraduate and graduate courses devoted to testing the full range of students in todays schools.

✦ Table of Contents

Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 12
CHAPTER 1 Purpose and Overview......Page 16
CHAPTER 2 Changing Demographics in a Testing Culture: Why This Issue Matters......Page 28
CHAPTER 3 The Past as Preparation: Measurement, Public Policy and Implications for Access......Page 52
CHAPTER 4 Getting Started: Issues of Participation, Alignment, and Validating Access with Test Specifications......Page 80
CHAPTER 5 Providing the Foundation of Principled Test Construction: Maintaining the Integrity of the Item Targets......Page 96
CHAPTER 6 Access-based Item Development......Page 116
CHAPTER 7 Tools, Test Forms, and Reviews......Page 156
CHAPTER 8 In What Language Should English Language Learners Be Tested?......Page 184
CHAPTER 9 Other Relevant Accommodations and Pretest Support......Page 216
CHAPTER 10 Proper Assignment of Accommodations to Individual Students......Page 232
CHAPTER 11 Scoring Considerations for English Language Learners......Page 270
CHAPTER 12 Selected Technical Considerations......Page 294
References......Page 334
Index......Page 360