ESL ACRONYMS
ESL website:
Main DPI website:
1.)What is a HLS? Home Language Survey; a form that every student or parent of the student must complete at the time of initial enrollment; federal requirement.
2.)What is a NOM? National Origin Minority student (another term for a language minority student); one who lists a language other than English on the Home Language Survey (HLS)
3.)What is WIDA? World-Class Instruction Design and Assessment; North Carolina joined the WIDA Consortium and adopted the WIDA standards and assessment June, 2008.
4.)What is the W-APT? WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test–a screener used for initial identification of limited English proficient (LEP) students
5.)What is the ACCESS for ELLs? Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners;the annual English language proficiency assessment effective with the 2008-09 school year
6.)What is LEP? Limited English Proficient; the identification given to students who scored below Superior in at least one subtest on the former state-mandated English language proficiency test, the IPT, or students who have a composite score less than 5.0 or any domain less than 5.0 on the W-APT.
7.)What is ELL? English Language Learner; another name given to LEP students.
8.)What are AMAOs? Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives; a type of additional Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students that is measured in two types– progress and proficiency- using the state-designated English language proficiency test; data analyzed by the Testing and Accountability Division at the Department of Public Instruction after each spring window every year. *Making district AYP for the LEP subgroup is the third target that must be met in order for AMAOs to be fully met.
9.)What is ESL? English as a Second Language; a method of instruction for students who are learning English as a new language
10.)What is the ELP SCS? English Language Proficiency Standard Course of Study; NC’s standard course of study for students learning English as a second or new language; approved June 5, 2008 by the State Board; mandated for the 2008-2009school year. The ELP SCS replaces the English Language Development Standard Course of Study (ELD SCS).
11.)What is a RAC? Regional Accountability Coordinator; an educator responsible for a region of the state and its testing issues; they report directly to the Testing and Accountability Division at the Department of Public Instruction; there are six in the state.
12.)What is NCCLAS? North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards; the alternate assessment for End-Of-Grade and End-Of-Course tests; for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students who have been in U.S. schools less than 24 months and who qualify based on their most recent language proficiency test scores (see “Clarification Regarding Use of Limited English Proficient Testing Accommodations and Exiting LEP Identification Chart”, NCDPI Accountability Services, October 2006 for students identified as LEP with the IPT. See “Eligibility for LEP Testing Accommodations and the Alternate Assessment” (dated August 2008) for students identified as LEP with the W-APT).
13.)What is NCLB? No Child Left Behind; The federal legislation passed in 2001; there are nine titles in No Child Left Behind – Title III specifically addresses language acquisition programs for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students.
14.)What is the IPT? IDEA Proficiency Test (IDEA=Individual Developmental English Activities); the former State-mandated proficiency test for determining Limited English Proficiency status.The IPT was replaced by WIDA assessments: the W-APT and the ACCESS for ELLs in June, 2008.
15.)What is BICS? Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills; the simple “playground talk” that students learn first; research has typically said it takes 1-2 years to develop.
16.)What is CALP? Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency; the more difficult, academic language students experience in school; research has typically said it takes 5-7 years to develop
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