Chapter Twenty-Two

Cultural and Linguistic Considerations

Differences among ELLs

• Substantial variety even within languages• Cultural variation• Social and political differences for immigration

IDEA Protections

• Eligibility decision must not be based on tools and procedures that measure a student’s English language ability

• Parent notice in native language

NCLB Requirements

• ELLs must participate in accountability testing• If sufficient numbers exist, may be a separate

group for determining AYP• Must take an English language proficiency test• During their first year, they can be excluded

from the English/Language Arts test

Factors to Consider in Testing

– The test can be invalid if it relies on a student’s cultural knowledge

– Cultural values must be considered (e.g., response to authority figures, male-female relations)

– Students from other cultures may lack test-taking skills

Questions to Ask

• At what age did the student first learning English?

• In what contexts is the student exposed to English?

• How similar is the student’s native language to English?

Testing Alternatives

• Engage in Denial• Use Non-Verbal Tests• Test in the Student’s Native Language– Use commercially-translated tests– Develop and validate a version for each group– Use an Interpreter• Test in English (test first to see if the student is

fluent in English)• Do Not Test