Approve Agreements for Technical Services for Test Administrators for the Spring 2007 Comprehensive English Language Learner Assessment (CELLA) (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

The Comprehensive English Language Learning Assessment (CELLA) will be conducted April 16, 2007, through May 22, 2007, to approximately 25,000 K-12 English Language Learners at designated school sites. The assessment is used to measure the growth of English Language Learners in English language skills needed to succeed in school. CELLA is a Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing proficiency assessment developed by Educational Testing Service that provides:

• Evidence of program accountability in accordance with Title III of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) which calls for schools and districts to meet state accountability objectives for increasing the English-language proficiency of English Language Learners.
• Data useful for charting student progress over time and, for the newly arrived students; charting progress over the first year.
• Information about the language proficiency levels of individual students that can be used in making decisions regarding placement into, or exit from ESOL programs.
• Diagnostically useful information about students’ strengths and weaknesses in English (with as much specificity as possible within the limitations of a large-scale standardized test.)

Agreements for Technical Services have been prepared for the attached list of test administrators. CELLA test administrators are trained retired teachers and administrators. This allows classroom teachers to maintain the instructional flow and time on task for students during the testing window. In order to effectively complete the required assessment, permission is requested to add and delete test administrators as needed, not to exceed the budgeted amount of $160,000.

Goal 1.d - Monitor student achievement and use the data as the basis for instructional decisions.

Funds of $160,000 are included in the federal Title III grant, Project 1261.