22492280, 6A-6.09091 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 22492280

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Division:

State Board of Education

Chapter:

SPECIAL PROGRAMS I

Overview

RULE:

6A-6.09091

Accommodations of the Statewide Assessment Program Instruments and Procedures for English Language Learners

PURPOSE:

To allow English Language Learners (ELLs) who have recently exited the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program to receive accommodations for the statewide assessment program. The effect of this amendment is that ELLs recently exited from ESOL would receive accommodations on the statewide assessments.

SUMMARY:

Stakeholders, including teachers, district staff and parents, have indicated that Florida’s English Language Learners (ELLs), even after being deemed proficient in English and therefore exiting the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, still need processing time to be able to demonstrate their knowledge on assessments.  By allowing assessment accommodations, specifically flexible timing, during the post-exit monitoring period of two years, Florida’s post-exit monitoring of ELLs will be strengthened. The main reason students are reclassified as ELLs once exited from the ESOL program is poor performance on statewide assessments. Many of our ELLs meet exit criteria with appropriate accommodations, and once those supports are removed, struggle to maintain satisfactory performance. Additionally, per Florida’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, the ELL subgroup federal index percentage calculation includes students exited up to four years after exit from the ESOL program, indicating that ELL accountability continues even after ELLs exit the ESOL program. This change would allow accommodations for recently exited ELLs to better demonstrate what they know on statewide assessments, while aligning to ESSA’s intent.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

1001.02, 1008.22, F.S.

LAW:

1008.22, F.S.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

10/16/2019 Vol. 45/202

COMMENTS:

From 10/16/2019 To 11/6/2019 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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