How We Evaluate Bilingual Students

Evaluating bilingual students requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond mere language proficiency. Utilize insights from both academic and social settings to grasp the full spectrum of a student's behavior and performance. Collaborate closely with English as a New Language (ENL) teachers and families to gather vital information regarding the student's language development in both languages. Conducting a social history is crucial to unravel the student's cultural background, language exposure, and developmental context for a comprehensive evaluation. Assessment in the student's dominant language is essential to avoid bias, and when standardized scores are insufficient, qualitative descriptors should be employed for a better understanding of their abilities. It's important to measure student progress in the context of other bilingual peers with similar backgrounds to ensure that evaluations align with their unique circumstances, ultimately providing more equitable and effective support for bilingual learners.