"Helping English-language learners." June 5, 2005. NYSUT Guide to K-12 Education Standards 2005-2006. New York State United Teachers.


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Your Credentials Helping English-language learners Posted: June 5, 2005 Pictured: NYSUT's Maria Neira, center, and Assistant SED Commissioner David Abrams, second from right, chat with ESL teachers and SED staff at a standard-setting conference for the state’s English as a Second Language Achievement Test. About 100 teachers - some of them giving up their spring break - gathered in suburban Albany in late March to set cut scores for the 2005 New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test. "You bring reality to the process, and that's especially important to our ESL and bilingual population," said New York State United Teachers Vice President Maria Neira. A former elementary-level bilingual teacher in New York City schools, Neira greeted participants at the State Education Department standard-setting conference. All school districts are held accountable for implementing educational programs for Limited- English-Proficient students. In New York, more than 400 districts provide programs for nearly 200,000 LEP students from more than 135 language backgrounds. New York state has developed K-12 learning standards in English as a Second Language and native language arts, K-12, both of which are aligned with the State's K-12 English Language Arts standards. NYSESLAT, the test that brought the teachers to Albany, is one of two tests developed to assess the proficiency of English-language learners and those with limited English proficiency. The Language Assessment Battery-Revised - known as the LAB-R - is used to identify LEP students at the time of enrollment. It consists of four subtests in listening, speaking, reading and writing in five grade-level groupings (K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8 and 9-12). The NYSESLAT is not a pass/fail assessment. It's used to evaluate the English-language proficiency of LEP students in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Data from the NYSESLAT is used to identify students who are not making annual objectives in acquiring English proficiency and who may need remedial help. It is also used to identify which schools are meeting Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind Act.
The Guide to State and Federal Standards for Academic Year 2005-2006 was developed by New York Teacher in conjunction with the union's Division of Research and Educational Services. Articles are by John Strachan. Updated June 2005. For updates, read New York Teacher, or go to the Web site at www.nysut.org. Single copies are available while supplies last. Bulk order requests should be made through local union presidents. Write NYSUT Publications, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, N.Y. 12110-2455; e-mail jmalec@nysutmail.org; or call (800) 342-9810, ext. 6260. Ask for item No. 204/05 from the Publications Department. The complete guide is also available for download at nysut.org/standards. NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees and retirees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. NYSUT.org. Copyright New York State United Teachers. 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York, 12110-2455. 518.213.6000.