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Section 4

Arizona’s English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA)

Audience: Test Coordinators, Test Administrators, Service Providers, and IEP and ILLP Team Members

Arizona’s English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA) is a standards-based assessment that measures a student’s English language proficiency based on the Arizona English Language Proficiency Standards. AZELLA meets both state and federal requirements in assessing the language proficiency of students identified as second language learners. It is used to determine student placement for appropriate English language instruction as well as for periodic reassessment purposes.

The Test Administration Directions (TAD) that accompany each form of the AZELLA provide guidance and scripted directions to ensure a standardized administration of the assessment. The following Universal Test Administration Conditions may be offered to any student to provide him/her with a comfortable, distraction-free environment during testing.

Universal Test Administration Conditions include:

• Testing in a small group, one-on-one, or in a separate location (e.g., another room), or in a study carrel

• Being seated in a specific location within the testing room or being seated at special furniture • Having the test administered by a familiar Test Administrator • Using a special pencil or grip • Using devices (e.g., glasses, contacts, magnification, special lighting, and color overlays) that

allow the student to see the test • Using devices (e.g., hearing aid, amplification apparatus) that allow the student to hear the

test administration • Wearing noise buffers after the scripted directions have been read (for the Reading and

Writing sections) • Repeating scripted directions from the Test Administration Directions as needed • Answering questions about the scripted directions from the Test Administration Directions

and/or the directions that students read on their own as needed • The use of scratch paper (to be securely shredded at the conclusion of testing)

Students who are unable to respond due to an injury may receive additional considerations. Contact [email protected] for further information.

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Test Accommodations for EL Students with Disabilities

All students who have been identified as having an EL need are required to take the AZELLA until they are determined to be proficient in English. This section is designed to provide guidance in the use of accommodations for EL students with disabilities.

Students with disabilities are those with special needs who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as determined by the Individual with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and/or a 504 Plan as determined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accommodations are changes in the presentation (e.g., read the extended writing prompts aloud) and/or the response options (e.g., scribe assisting with bubbling answers) in the administration of the assessment that do not alter the item and what is being measured, but still allow students to demonstrate their proficiency in English. The “Universal Test Administration Conditions” are available to all students and may also be included in a student’s IEP or 504 Plan.

The following AZELLA Test Accommodations for Students with Disabilities are only available to those students who have a current IEP or 504 Plan. They are listed by Domain (L= Listening, R= Reading, W= Writing, and S= Speaking) as they relate to the format of the AZELLA.

AZELLA Accommodations Acceptable Not Acceptable or Not Applicable

Allow Frequent Breaks L, R, W S

Provide verbal directions in simplified English for the directions that students read on their own

L, W R, S

Allow the Test Administrator to read the test content aloud W L, R, S

Allow a scribe to assist in bubbling answers for multiple choice items

L, R, W S

Allow the use of assistive technology* for the extended writing prompt response with spell check, grammar check, and word prediction functions turned off

Contact [email protected] before providing this accommodation * Speech-to-Text is prohibited.

W L, R, S

Allow the enlargement of test materials

Contact [email protected] before providing this accommodation

L, R, W, S

Allow the test to be administered over multiple days.

Contact [email protected] before providing this accommodation

L, R, W S

The translation of the test by the Test Administrator into another language is not allowed. The use of dictionaries, word lists, or glossaries is not allowed in the administration of the AZELLA. Some students may be provided with accommodations during instruction that are not appropriate for use during a standardized state assessment. Accommodations routinely provided to students during classroom instruction or for classroom assessments based on an IEP or 504 Plan that are not listed above must be approved by ADE prior to their use during AZELLA administration. Send e-mail questions to [email protected] regarding the administration of AZELLA to students with disabilities.