TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
Subject: Assessment Requirements for Students of Limited English Proficiency
in the State Testing Program
On November 6, 1999, the State Board of Education gave final approval to amendments to 19 TAC §101.3, Testing Accommodations and Exemptions relating to the participation of students of limited English proficiency in the state testing program. These rules have been filed with the Texas Register and became effective December 5, 1999. A copy is enclosed.
The rules incorporate changes recommended by members of the Texas Legislature to delay the effective date of certain provisions of Senate Bill 103 relating to limited English proficient students until September 1, 2000, to allow districts more time to prepare students for the new testing requirements.
Major provisions of the rules are:
· Beginning in spring 2000, the Reading Proficiency Tests in English (RPTE) will be administered to all LEP students in grades 3-12, including LEP students with parental denial.
· The three-year rule on TAAS exemptions for LEP students in grades 3-8 will remain in effect for the spring 2000 administration but it applies only to immigrant students who have been in the U. S. three years or less.
· All non-immigrant LEP students in grades 3-8 must take the TAAS in English or in Spanish.
· Alternative assessments for LEP students exempted from TAAS will not be required.
· A one time postponement of the end-of-course tests will be allowed for recent immigrant students who enroll in U.S. schools no more than 12 months before the test administration.
· Beginning in the 2000-2001 school year, all LEP students in grades 3-8 will take TAAS in English or in Spanish unless the student is a recent unschooled immigrant enrolled in U. S. schools for 12 months or less.
Within the next few weeks, the Student Assessment Division will disseminate detailed information on the spring 2000 state assessment program including the RPTE administration. Questions concerning assessment requirements for LEP students should be directed to the Student Assessment Division at (512) 463-9536 or the Bilingual Education Program Unit at (512) 475-3555.
Sincerely,
Jim Nelson
Commissioner of Education
For further information on this topic, contact Bilingual Education Program Unit at (512) 475-3555