http://mcasblog.childrenleftbehind.com Improving the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:25:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 http://mcasblog.childrenleftbehind.com/2009/07/22/hello-world/#comment-4 Theresa Austin Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:07:15 +0000 http://mcasblog.childrenleftbehind.com/2009/07/22/hello-world/#comment-4 <p>Despite the research that shows it takes between<br /> > 4-8 years for older students and 3-7 years for younger students to<br /> > attain grade level proficiency in English as a second language, these<br /> > students are sitting for subject matter exams in English in their<br /> > first year in some districts. Even when they know the subject matter,<br /> > eg. math, science, etc,. they can not demonstrate how much they know<br /> > because of their language acquisition. Neither are accommodations<br /> > monitored to ensure they are appropriate to the level of proficiency<br /> > of the student nor if the accommodations are working. Together these<br /> > conditions contribute to the under-representation of what these<br /> > students know and can do.The high rate of drop out of Latino students<br /> > merits further consideration.<br /> > Let me know if I can help in any way to direct attention to these issues.<br /> > Theresa Austin</p> Despite the research that shows it takes between
> 4-8 years for older students and 3-7 years for younger students to
> attain grade level proficiency in English as a second language, these
> students are sitting for subject matter exams in English in their
> first year in some districts. Even when they know the subject matter,
> eg. math, science, etc,. they can not demonstrate how much they know
> because of their language acquisition. Neither are accommodations
> monitored to ensure they are appropriate to the level of proficiency
> of the student nor if the accommodations are working. Together these
> conditions contribute to the under-representation of what these
> students know and can do.The high rate of drop out of Latino students
> merits further consideration.
> Let me know if I can help in any way to direct attention to these issues.
> Theresa Austin

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