Language Proficiency Custom Testing

OSPI is pleased to offer Custom Testing for languages that have one or fewer assessments available for Competency-Based Credits (CbC) and the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy (the Seal). We're partnering with Avant Assessment, which delivers the STAMP assessments. Avant provides the assessment prompts and recruits, trains, and manages the certified raters while also providing the testing platform. ​​

Custom Tests Overview

Custom Tests are OSPI-approved assessments and can be requested through the Custom Test Request Form. Please look at the instructions below to request a Custom Test.

Costs

• OSPI will cover all costs for fully completed Custom Tests for all languages.

Requests

• OSPI greatly encourages districts to have all students attempt practice prompts BEFORE requesting a Custom Test.
• Tests should be requested by one coordinator per district who will also receive all results.
• Districts or schools may request NEW languages (not yet offered) from September 1 until March 1 of each school year.

Testing

• Tests may be proctored and submitted by any trained district official.
• Districts must schedule testing dates.

Test Structure

• Custom Tests consist of two parts: a recorded speaking portion and a writing portion.
• This is similar to STAMP WS or ALTA proficiency assessments and meets WAC 392-410-350 requirements.
• Responses must be fully in the requested language.
• Any blank or full prompt response in English will automatically receive a 0 score, giving the student no chance at any credit.
• District proctors are responsible for monitoring the language of each response.

Speaking Assessment

• The speaking test consists of oral responses to three (3) prompts.
• Prompts are in English due to translation limitations.
• Students must respond to all three prompts.
• Students may re-record each prompt only once.
• Students must respond completely in the requested language except for words that might not exist in that language (ex: Volleyball, Autotune, etc.).

Writing Assessment

• The writing test consists of text-based responses to three (3) prompts.
• Prompts are in English due to translation limitations.
• Students must respond to all three prompts.
• Students must respond completely in the requested language except for words that might not exist in that language (ex: Volleyball, Autotune, etc.)
• Students can either type or write their responses.

Steps to Custom Testing

Finding Students

• Working from your at-home language surveys, contact families with a home language other than English to see if their students might like to assess for credit or the Seal.
• Contact families to see if their children have had out-of-school language learning experiences, such as attending community-language programs or traveling and living abroad.
• Contact students who are currently receiving or previously received eligible Multilingual English Learners (TBIP) services and might be interested in World Language credit for their heritage language(s).
• Post informational flyers around the school, preferably translated. These leaflets will alert students who are not in any of the groups above.
• Create a list of ALL languages needed and check availability on OSPI’s World Language Proficiency Assessment Options page.

Establishing Student Language Ability

• Practice prompts are provided for districts to determine if students have the writing and speaking skills necessary to test.
• District personnel do not need to understand the oral or written language – recognizing that the language is not English and can be sustained for one minute and a paragraph is enough.
• Best practice is to have a few prompts ready because we want students to have spontaneous answers, not practiced responses.
• Student responses do not have to be truthful. If they do not have enough experience with the topic, they can make up information if it answers the prompt.

Please have students do one spoken and one written prompt before requesting a Custom Test.

This assures the student can complete both tasks necessary to earn credit. If a student cannot finish one of the skills, they will earn 0 credits.

Requesting a Custom Test

• Custom Tests are for languages with one or fewer currently available assessments. Check OSPI’s World Language Proficiency Assessment Options page for a list of offered languages.

Language is offered/available

• Establish if the student has the necessary speaking and writing skills to potentially earn credit through a practice prompt.
• Decide on a time and date to test.
• Request a test.

Language is not offered/available

• Establish if the student has the necessary speaking and writing skills to potentially earn credit through a practice prompt.
• Request the new language through the form but be aware that new languages are not guaranteed.
• Reminder that deadline to request NEW languages is March 01.
• All requests must be submitted here: Custom Test Request Form
• One district coordinator should request all Custom Tests. This is also the person who will receive all results.
• Submit a new request for each language.

Facilitating and Proctoring a Custom Test

Before Testing

• After submitting an official Custom Test request, a representative of Avant will reach out to the requester.

During Testing

• Proctor responsibilities include:
• helping students log in and to be ready to test;
• monitoring the entire testing process to deter cheating; and
• checking that responses are audible/legible, in the language of assessment, and complete.

After Testing

• Coordinators will receive a score sheet and credit recommendation letter from OSPI for each student.

Reporting Custom Testing

• All State Course Codes (Appendix V) can be found on the CEDARS website.
• Districts should use “World Language (Other Language)” as the course code to report Competency-based Credits but be diligent to name the course with the appropriate language.
• For example, all Tribal languages are currently coded as “American Indian Language” and then courses are titled with the specific, appropriate language, such as Lushootseed.
• Change the Local Course Title to (Insert Language) 1 Comp NM, etc.
• The state course codes are repeated with a different Local Course Title for every Custom Test language.

Here is an example:

Shrue, a student in the Everytown district, has earned 2 Competency-based Credits in Kosraean. The registrar should input:

Local Course Title: Kosraean 1 Comp NM
State Title: World Language (Other Language) I
State Code: 24952

Local Course Title: Kosraean 2 Comp NH
State Title: World Language (Other Language) II
State Code: 24953