No. 130    Institute for Learning

  Date:   April 3, 2001
  To:   Principals at Schools with grades 5-8 Students, Division and Department Heads
  Subject:   Language Assessment Scales (LAS) and Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM)
  Department  and/or  Persons  Concerned:   Principals, Vice Principals, ELD Teachers (Grades 5-12), Test Coordinators, English Learner Coordinators
  Due Date:   Testing materials to be returned by May 21, 2001 (traditional schools) or by May 29, 2001 (year-round schools)
  Reference:   None
  Action  Requested:   The Language Assessment Scales and Student Oral Language Observation Matrix must be administered to selected English Learner students in Grades 5-8 during the designated testing window.
 
Brief Explanation:

Each year, the Language Assessment Scales (LAS) and Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM) have been given to English Learners in Grades 5-12 to determine English language proficiency, identify candidates for redesignation, and assist in class placement. The SOLOM is used to assess oral proficiency and the LAS to assess reading and writing. The California Department of Education recently adopted a new test of English proficiency titled the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Beginning with the fall 2001 school year, the CELDT will be administered to each English learner on an annual basis and is intended to replace the LAS/SOLOM assessments. For this reason, all LAS testing materials MUST be turned in to the Standards and Assessment Office at the end of this spring’s testing window.

Students Who Must Take the LAS and SOLOM

In an effort to streamline the assessments given to English learners, the LAS and SOLOM will be given this spring to only a select group of students for specific purposes. Both the LAS and SOLOM must be administered to the following groups of students:

Elementary Grades 5-6

  • To assist with class placement at middle/junior high level:

  • EL students enrolled fewer than three years as of the end of this school year.

Middle School Grades 6 and 8 and Junior High Grades 7 and 8

To assist with promotion/retention decisions:

  • EL students enrolled between two and three years as of the end of this school year.

  • EL students who are significantly below grade level on the 2001 SDRT

Pre-printed scan sheets identifying the students who fall into the above categories will be sent to schools approximately one week before the beginning of the test window.

Note: EL students who do not fall into the above categories need not take the LAS and SOLOM. However, the LAS may be administered to any student you believe to be a good candidate for redesignation this year.

Dates for LAS/Solom Testing
 
School Calendar Testing Window Testing Materials Due
Traditional  May 7 – 16 May 21
Year–Round May 14 – 23 May 29

Materials for Testing

LAS: Form A of the LAS will be used again this year. School sites should have adequate supplies of the reading booklets. The consumable writing booklets will be distributed at the required LAS training. Two pre-printed scan sheets will be provided for each student taking the LAS: a blue scan sheet for the reading portion of the test and a green scan sheet for the writing portion of the test.

SOLOM: SOLOM scoring cards will be provided at SOLOM training. Additional cards will be included with materials distributed to each site test coordinator at LAS training. An orange pre-printed scan sheet will be provided for each student to record SOLOM scores.

Return of Test Materials by the Due Date

LAS: Prepare the LAS materials for return as follows:

  • Insert each student’s green (writing) scoring scan sheet into their completed writing test booklet (to be later used by scorers).

  • Compile completed blue (reading) scan sheets.

  • Separate and compile unused green and blue scan sheets.

  • Package ALL LAS test materials (booklets, examiner manuals, etc.) for return.
    (No LAS materials may remain on site. All must be returned.)

SOLOM: Compile all SOLOM scan sheets

All LAS and SOLOM materials must be delivered (not sent through school mail) to the Standards and Assessment Office, Eugene Brucker Education Center, Annex 3 no later than 4 p.m. on the assigned due date.

Training for Test Administration

Each site must designate a LAS/SOLOM Test Coordinator. Training for the LAS and SOLOM will be provided as described below. Participants of both LAS and SOLOM training will be compensated at the workshop participation rate.

LAS: Three sessions have been scheduled to provide training on LAS test administration procedures and to disseminate testing materials. All teachers administering the test are encouraged to attend, however, the site test coordinator and/or staff member who will be responsible for coordinating site training must attend one of the sessions.
 
 

a. Wednesday

April 25 

4-5:30

Kwachiiyoa

 

b. Thursday

April 26

4-5:30 Kwachiiyoa
  c. Tuesday May 1 4-5:30 Kwachiiyoa

 
SOLOM:

The classroom teacher (elementary) or the ESL/ELD teacher (secondary) of each identified student will complete the SOLOM. All teachers administering the SOLOM assessment are encouraged to attend the SOLOM test administration training, however it is required for any teacher who has not been previously trained. This is of particular importance for middle/junior high teachers this year as promotion/retention decisions for English learners may be strongly influenced by the accurate scoring of this assessment. The SOLOM training will be provided in two cohorts:

Elementary Level, Grades 5 and 6:

SOLOM training will be provided in conjunction with elementary English learner Annual Assessment training, to be scheduled in May. Registration information and dates will be sent to elementary schools at a later date.

Middle/Junior High School Teachers:

The ESL/ELD teachers will complete the SOLOM for each English learner identified as needing this assessment. Each teacher must already have been trained or must attend one of the following training sessions. All sessions will be held at Kwachiiyoa.

 

1

Wed.

April 4

4 – 5:30

  

5

Mon.

April 23

4 – 5:30

2

Thurs.

April 5

3 – 4:30

  

6

Sat.

April 21

9 – 10:30

3

Tues.

April 17

3 – 4:30

  

7

Sat.

April 21

10:30 - noon

4

Thurs.

April 19

4 – 5:30

  

8

Fri.

April 27

4 – 5:30

 

Please call (619) 725-7264 to register for the LAS and/or SOLOM training.
You will be asked to leave a message stating the following information for each participant:

  1. Name of School

  2. Registering for LAS and/or SOLOM

  3. Name of participant

  4. Grade(s) taught

  5. Session(s) requested for LAS and SOLOM

Questions and Information

Please direct questions regarding the actual assessment and training to the Biliteracy and English Learner Support Department at (619) 725-7267. Questions regarding test materials should be directed to the Standards and Assessment Office at (619) 725-7172.
 
Eileen Poole
Program Manager
Standards and Assessment Office Department  		Teresa Walter
Program Manager
Biliteracy and English Learner Support


APPROVED:

Mary Hopper
Executive Officer to Chancellor
Institute for Learning