Competency Testing Process For Districts

1. Adopt a policy and procedure for awarding high school credits based on World Language proficiency
   • WSSDA Sample Policy
   • WSSDA Sample Procedure
2. Decide who will pay for the tests and how to process payment. Possible funding structures include the following:
   • District Pays
   • District Prioritizes Funding
     • 11th and 12th-graders who need credits
     • Students who are in financial need
     • First time taking the test
   • Students Pay
3. Set up accounts with the testing company based upon the languages and tests your district plans to offer.

4. Budget Code and Payment
   The district should set up a budget code for World Language Competency Testing that can receive student payments and pay invoices from the testing companies. If a student pays for the tests, the student should be instructed to include the budget code with payment. The school accountant can advise on the best system to accept and track payment.

Samples of District Communication

• News Release - Students Earn High School Credits for World Language Competency
• Register for World Language Credit for Proficiency: Sample 1 | Sample 2

Registration

Schedule Testing Dates
Choose strategic times of the year to avoid other state testing windows and to allow time to report results on the transcripts.
NOTE: AP and IB exams are scheduled according to the College Board and IB calendars.

Student Readiness for Testing

Students can benefit from World Language Competency Testing. If students are not able to speak, sign (ASL), read and write in the language, they should work to improve their skills before testing. Consult the Language Options Spreadsheet to determine the tests for each language. Student readiness can be assessed in a variety of ways:

• Can Do Statements-Students self-assess proficiency against Novice Mid to Intermediate-Mid level with the NCSSFL - ACTFL Can Do statements
  • Quick
  • Approximate, not individualized
• Student Meetings-Students attend an informational meeting where they practice a quick write and a conversation
  • Thorough, accurate, screens out students who lack a skill (reading, writing, speaking) in language to be tested
  • Requires an after school meeting with teacher
• Portfolio-Students create a guided online or paper portfolio of their language skills
  • Student-directed, open-ended, supports the student's social and emotional connection to their home language, can be done anywhere
  • Requires Internet connection, younger students may need guidance, an educator should give feedback on the portfolio

Choose a Location

Reserve a location that is accessible to students. If a site is distant from the students' home school, consider organizing transportation with parent volunteers or a school bus. The testing location will need:

• Computers with a good internet connection for the STAMP, OPIc, and Custom Tests
• Headsets for listening and speaking on STAMP, OPIc, and Custom Tests
• Room for the Written tests
• Room for the Phone Oral Interviews if scheduling the same day
• ASL: Arrange for location that has approved video technology (i.e., videophone, FUZE) and provide the number to ASL point of contact or coordinator.
• AP and IB Testing: AP and IB exams are scheduled according to the College Board and IB calendars.

Notify the students of testing options

• Flyer
• District Website
• Weekend Language Schools
• Counselors
• ASL, ELL, and World Language Teachers

Student Sign Up

The registration process should be accessible to students and easy to navigate.

• Districts with one high school-Hand-written sign up managed at the school
  • Highly accessible to all students, accurate
  • Hard copy only
• Districts with multiple high schools-Online sign up with an online survey service
  • Creates a spreadsheet of students, students can sign up on any device
  • Students must have internet access, signups must be verified against registered students

Proctoring Guidelines(General

1. Recruit testing proctors, as necessary, for the volume and type of tests involved. Administrators, school counselors, and teachers make good proctors. An honorarium may be given, depending on the proctor chosen, especially if they are from the community at large. It is not advised to have a parent of a testing student be the proctor.
2. Conduct an orientation. Review the Competency Testing and Credits for World Languages and the Seal of Biliteracy webpages.
3. During testing, you will want a quiet and secure environment with sufficient computer stations with headphones and microphones, spaced appropriately apart.
4. Students should be able to test in one sitting. There may need to be a second testing date in order to accommodate the student numbers/computers and keep the testing environment appropriate.
5. A proctor will need to be in the room at all times to ensure that students appropriately log in to the test and maintain the integrity of the testing scenario, i.e., no talking, no going to alternate sites to look up words or peek at a dictionary and/or notes, no leaving the room during testing, etc.
6. It is wise to have a school technology expert on hand in case of technical problems.
7. Conduct a "dry run" with the school's technology expert.

• Have students take a practice test ahead of time so they are familiar with the type of testing and can determine the appropriate log-in protocols, as required, for the testing agency.
• Speaking is part of most language proficiency tests. Testing carrels should be appropriately spaced to ensure privacy. Headphones with microphones will be needed. Check with the testing agency for technology requirements.
• Most proficiency tests take 60-90 minutes, depending on the testing agency. Only under very unusual circumstances would a student need to abort testing mid-test and come back later to finish.

NOTE: Seniors relying on the results of a world language competency test taken during their graduation year must be advised that there are no credit guarantees. Test results will be interpreted by the testing agency and then translated into credits based on student performance. The student might not qualify for any world language credit or the student might qualify for up to 4 world language credits. Visit the "Results" tab for additional information. Test results may have implications for students seeking to earn the Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation.

Sample Tests:

• Avant STAMP 4S Sample Test
• AAPPL Tips for Performing your Best

Testing - Order and Set up

Two Weeks Before Testing Date

• Close registration
• Check registration list for errors
• Arrange transportation, if district provides
• Hire or reassign a technical support person.
• Hire one proctor per 25 students, plus at least one floater.
• Do test diagnostics provided by the testing companies

Order Tests by Language and Provider - Options List (Includes AP and IB options)

Avant Assessment

Proctoring Guidelines

Order Tests

• Contact Avant Assessment to purchase tests (licenses) needed
• Obtain testing codes for each language from Avant Assessment
• Check the technology needs based on Avant Assessment's guidelines
• Verify one computer and headset per student
• Download and print proctoring agreement

One Week Before Testing Date

• Send out reminders to students
• Print testing code labels to put on computer monitors

Testing Day

• Proctors arrive 30-45 minutes early for instructions per testing company proctor agreement
• Students check in with proctors and provide a photo I.D. Verify name on registration list
• Supply pens for students
• Instruct students to follow a clear pattern when creating logins (first_last)
• Have students write down the login they create
• Encourage student to finish both the red section (reading/writing) and the yellow section (listening/speaking)
• Collect all tests and testing directions before students leave

Two Days Later

• Check test results online for problems. (Unfinished tests, Un-ratable tests (contact testing company for explanation), or Incomplete results)

ALTA Language Testing

Order Tests

• Order written tests needed through ALTA's online system
• Print out written test when it arrives by email from ALTA
• Email ALTA for appointment for Oral interview
• Confirm appointment with students by phone to avoid NO SHOW CHARGE (use a translator, if necessary)
• Download and print proctoring agreement
• Consider doing ALTA writing, first and scheduling interviews only for students who pass

One Week Before Testing Date

• Send out reminders to students and time of oral interview, if scheduled

Testing Day

• Proctors arrive 30-45 minutes early for instructions per testing company proctor agreement
• Students check in with proctors and provide a photo ID. Verify name on registration list
• Supply pens for students
• Collect all tests and testing directions before students leave
• Give students written assignment to complete
• Scan written assignments and send them to ALTA
• Speaking Tests: send students to phone interview room at appointment time

Two Days Later

• Check test results online for problems. (Unfinished tests, Un-ratable tests (contact testing company for explanation), or Incomplete results)
• Students who score zero on the ILR (International Language Rating) for writing do not qualify for credits; do not schedule oral
• Email ALTA to schedule a speaking appointment for students who received a score of zero+ (0+) or higher on the written test
• Confirm speaking appointment with students and proctor

Language Testing International(LTI)

Order Tests

• Order WPT, OPIc, and AAPPL tests through LTI's website
• LTI delivers tests through online system
• Verify one computer and headset per student for OPIc and AAPPL
• Submit three possible times for the OPIs through LTI's online system
• LTI will send time of interview by email
• Confirm appointment with students by phone to avoid NO SHOW CHARGE (use a translator, if necessary)
• Download proctoring agreement

One Week Before Testing Date

• Send out reminders to students; include time of OPI
• Print WPTs and OPIc codes

Testing Day

• Proctors arrive 30-45 minutes early for instructions per testing company proctor agreement
• Students check in with proctors and provide a photo ID. Verify name on registration list
• Supply pens for students
• Collect all tests and testing directions before students leave
• Students need computers for OPIc
• Students will hand write the WPT
• OPI Tests: send students to phone interview room at appointment time
• Scan written tests and email back to LTI

Two Days Later

• Check test results online for problems. (Unfinished tests, Un-ratable tests (contact testing company for explanation), or Incomplete results)
• Students who score Novice-Low for writing do not qualify for credits; do not schedule oral
• Schedule OPI appointment through LTI's testing site for students who received a score of Novice-Mid or higher
• Confirm speaking appointment with students and proctor

ASL:ASLPI

1. Calendar Availability
2. Scheduling Information
3. Preparation Information

ASL:SLPI

• Rochester Institute of Technology SLPI

ASL:NCASLTA

• North Carolina American Sign Language Teachers Association SLPI

Custom Tests

Order Tests

• If a tester has requested a language not offered by the commercial testing companies, check for dialects and alternative names on Ehnologue: Languages of the World.
• Fill out the Custom Test Request Form
• Schedule a training session with Extempore
• Verify one computer and headset per student One Week Before Testing Date
• Send out reminders to students Testing Day
• Proctors arrive 30-45 minutes early for instructions
• Students check in with proctors and provide a photo ID. Verify name on registration list.
• Supply pens for students
• Collect all tests and testing directions before students leave

Two Days Later

• Fill out Custom Test Completion Form (Scoring for Customs Tests will not begin until Completion Form has been submitted.)