Arkansas Adopts New Online English Language Learner Assessments
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 12/16/15
Arkansas will expand its use of digital tools to conduct its English language
proficiency
assessments in spring 2016 following field trials last year.
Questar
Assessment's
computer-based tests will be used to evaluate English
language learners who are K-12 students in reading, writing, speaking
and listening.
Technology-enhanced test items include drag-and-drop and voice
recording
technology, among others.
The English
Language Proficiency Assessment for
the 21st Century (ELPA21) is a
consortium of 11 states that together
are developing an assessment system to equip English language learners,
teachers and families with the tools to succeed in school. Arkansas is
one of
those 11 states.
Questar
also worked with some of the states in
the consortium in the 2014-15 school year and has experience in
conducting
similar summative assessments in other states. Company representatives said
that
experience, and additional research gathered, has allowed it to
continually
refine the assessment tools in order to make them more effective.
"We
are excited to continue our partnership with
Arkansas beyond last year's field tests and work together this spring
to serve
the state's English language learners," said Questar Assessment
President and
CEO Jamie Post Candee.
Other
states besides Arkansas in the consortium
are Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, South
Carolina, Washington and West Virginia. Other states in which Questar has used
the technology
in English language learner assessment are Idaho, Michigan, Montana,
New York
and Utah.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.