Update on the Single, Statewide Assessment for Identification of English Learners, Effective 2019-2020 School Year
DATE: | August 8, 2019 |
SUBJECT: | Update on the Single, Statewide Assessment for Identification of English Learners, Effective 2019-2020 School Year |
CATEGORY: | Required English Learner (EL) Programs |
NEXT STEPS: | Share with appropriate staff responsible for ordering EL assessments |
TEA replaced its Commissioner’sList of Approved Tests with single, statewide assessments for English Learner identification and reclassification, effective in the 2019-2020 school year, as per requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as articulated in the Title III, Part A section of the Texas ESSA State Plan, and pursuant to TEC § 29.056(a)(2)-(3) and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 89.1226.
TEA posted a Request for Proposal (RFP) on January 24, 2019 and selected Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) and its Language Assessment System (LAS) Battery as the single statewide language proficiency test provider for English learner identification in Texas onApril 25, 2019. Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, LEAs in Texas are to use the DRC LAS Battery for English Learner identification. No other assessments may be used for the purpose of English Learner identification.
However, TEA is allowing for LEAs to administer the English language proficiency test and, for students in grades 2-12, a state-approved norm-referenced achievement test, with materials from the previous school year (Commissioner’s List of Approved Tests 2018-2019) until October 31st of the 2019-2020 school year or until materials from the previous school year have been exhausted; whichever comes first.
New orders of assessments for the purpose of English Learner identification other than the DRC LAS Battery are not allowed, as the procurement process has been completed and DRC is the sole vendor for this assessment. A full transition to the DRC LAS Battery must be completed by November 1.
With school year 2019-2020 just ahead, TEA encourages you to contact DRC immediately to begin the ordering process.
Contact for Further Information
For information on how to order tests, train test administrators, etc., visit the DRC Texas-dedicated page at https://laslinks.com/texas.
Texas orders must be submitted to the dedicated Texas email box or by calling the Texas phone line:
LAS Texas Orders (phone) 833-867-5679 Option 1
LAS Texas Orders (email) LASOrderTX@datarecognitioncorp.com