In the 2016-17 school year, Camas School District began offering world language testing to students to provide them with an opportunity to earn high school credit by demonstrating fluency in reading, writing, speaking and listening in a language other than English.

Students may be awarded credit in a World Language by establishing competency in a language other than English. Assessments are aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines to ensure consistency across languages. The district will accept the following assessment instrument(s) to establish proficiency:

Demonstrating Proficiency in a World Language

  • Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) for middle and high school students in reading, writing, speaking, and listening (if available) for all languages for which it is available.
  • ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPL) in reading, writing, speaking, and listening for all languages for which it is available.
  • ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or Oral Proficiency Interview Computer-Based (OPIc) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) or ALTA Language tests for languages which STAMP, ACTFL, or AAPPL are not available.
  • For languages that do not currently have a nationally available, proficiency-based assessment, the district will work with local language communities and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to develop a collection of evidence process, such as a Proctored Writing Test and Proctored Oral Language Test, aligned with ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Demonstrating Proficiency: Other Assessments

Also, the district will accept the following assessments to establish proficiency:

  • The Sign Language Proficiency Interview for American Sign Language (SLPI ASL), offered through the North Carolina American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA).
  • Advanced Placement Language Exam in a language other than English.

The district will provide students with information regarding district assessment opportunities and fees. Students may also make personal and independent arrangements for the above-listed assessments when that option for assessment is available. The assessments must be offered in a proctored setting with appropriate technology. The district must approve the site(s) where the assessments are offered. Sites could include individual schools, district buildings, community colleges, universities, educational service districts, or other community settings.

Earning a Seal of Biliteracy

A student shall be awarded the Washington state seal of biliteracy upon graduation if the student has demonstrated proficiency in English by meeting the statewide minimum graduation requirements in English and by meeting the state standard on the reading and writing or English language arts assessments, and the student has demonstrated proficiency in one or more world languages through any one of the following methods:

  1. Passing a foreign language advanced placement examination with a score of three or higher;
  2. Demonstrating intermediate-mid level proficiency or higher in the world language based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines, using assessments approved by the office of superintendent of public instruction for competency-based credits;
  3. Qualifying for four competency-based credits by demonstrating proficiency in the world language at an intermediate-mid level or higher based on the ACTFL proficiency guidelines, according to the school district’s policy and procedure for competency-based credits for world languages; or
  4. Demonstrating proficiency in speaking, writing, and reading the world language through other national or international assessments approved by the office of superintendent of public instruction at a level comparable to intermediate-mid level or higher based on the ACTFL proficiency guidelines. (WAC 392-410-350)

Board Policy 2410

Board Policy 2409

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

How do students know if they should take and can pass the tests?

If students can fluently read, write, speak, and listen in a language other than English and can answer “Yes, I can do this fairly easily” to each statement below in a language other than English, then they will probably be able to earn at least one or two credits. If students can answer “Yes, I can do this very easily” to all of the statements, then they may be able to earn three or four credits when they get tested:

  1. I can understand ideas on familiar topics expressed through phrases, short sentences, and frequently used expressions. [Listening]
  2. I can understand the main idea and some details in simple texts that contain familiar vocabulary. [Reading]
  3. I can exchange information with another person about familiar tasks, topics, and activities. [Person-to Person Communication]
  4. I can use a series of phrases and sentences to provide basic information about familiar topics. [Spoken Production]
  5. I can write simple descriptions and short messages and request or provide information on familiar topics. [Writing]
  6. Who can take a world language assessment?

Students in Camas Public Schools in grades 8 through 12 may sign up for testing. All students must register and pay the fee through Camas Community Education within the registration window for fall or spring.

Registration and Testing Location

When are the 2020-21 testing dates?

Two testing sessions will be offered on Monday, January 25:

  • Session 1: 9 AM – 12 PM (8:30 AM sign-in)
  • Session 2: 1 PM – 4 PM (12:30 PM sign-in)

When can students register?

Registration will open on November 30 and close on December 18. Families will be notified about registration through ParentSquare. Registration is open to students in grades 8-12, with priority given to students in grades 11 and 12.

Where can students register for and take the assessment?

Students can register at http://communityed.camas.wednet.edu/classes/language/. Convenience fees for online purchases are waived at this time.

Students will take the assessment at the district office (Zellerbach Administration Center) unless notified otherwise.

Languages Tested

Which languages are tested?

We will make every effort to include all languages. Students fluent in a language not commonly spoken in the United States should register in October in the event that it takes additional time to locate a test.

Credits and Benefits

How many credits can the student earn by demonstrating fluency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening?

Students will be able to earn up to four credits, depending upon the level of proficiency they demonstrate on the assessments reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students may demonstrate varying levels of proficiency across these four skill areas, and because credits will be awarded based on the lowest level of proficiency demonstrated across the skill areas, it is important for students to have strong skills in all four areas.

What is the benefit of taking this test?

Students will earn proficiency-based high school credits, will meet the world language credit requirement for graduation, and may qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma.

How will students get the credits added to the transcript?

Test results will not be automatically added to student transcripts. Students and their families can return the district letter (sent after testing) to their school counselor or registrar to request that world language proficiency credits be added to their transcript. Students (who tested in other locations) and their families can complete the district form 2409P to request approval of credit for proficiency in a world language, attach the original score reports and official documentation, to their school registrar or counselor. Credit will be awarded a grade of Satisfactory (S). Once placed on the transcript, the credits cannot be removed.

What is the Seal of Biliteracy?

Students who demonstrate proficiency on the world language competency tests at the Intermediate-Mid proficiency level may qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma if they also meet all requirements for English Language Arts (ELA), including passing all four high school English classes and passing the state ELA Smarter Balanced Assessment.

Assessment Costs

What will the test cost?

Students and their families are responsible for paying the assessment fee. The fee may vary depending on the language tested. Exact fee amounts can be found on the registration form from Camas Community Ed.

If I am not satisfied with my results, can I retest?

Yes, you can pay and take the test again.

Preparing for Testing

What are ways to prepare for languages assessed with other tests?

Students should:

  • Be prepared to show what they know with a variety of speaking, listening, and writing tasks, such as giving a description, talking about an event, writing a letter, and describing a procedure.
  • Be sure that they can demonstrate fluency with how they use and control the language since they will be scored on communication, comprehension, expression, understanding of the given topics, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.

How do I know if I am ready to take a language proficiency test?

Students’ language proficiency should be at the Intermediate-Mid level to earn four credits. To see if a student’s proficiency level is appropriate for testing and to see other helpful ideas regarding testing, stents can review the list of topics and skills at https://www.actfl.org/advocacy/actfl-position-statements/global-competence-position-statement by clicking on the Intermediate-Mid boxes for each mode: interpersonal communication, presentational speaking, presentational writing, interpretive listening, and interpretive reading. Then students should click on the additional links provided in the boxes and review the “Can Do” statements at the Intermediate-Mid and other levels.

What happens if I do not do well on the test?

Students will have multiple opportunities and should prepare for the next test administration date to increase their scores.

Test Results

How will I find out about my test results?

Students will receive a letter from the school district notifying them of their testing results, proficiency levels, and the number of eligible high school credits. See the chart below for how a variety of test scores translate to the number of high school credits.

ACTFL Proficiency Guideline Levels Eligible HS Credit STAMP R/W/L/S AAPPL R/W/L/S OPI & WPT ILR Rating ALTA Writing & Oral
Novice Low 0 1 N1 Novice Low 0- 1, 2
Novice Mid 1 2 N2 & N3 Novice Mid 0 3
Novice High 2 3 N4 Novice High 0+ 4
Intermediate Low 3 4 I1 Intermediate Low 5
Intermediate Mid 4 5 I2, I3, I4 Intermediate Mid 1- 5
Intermediate High 4 6 I5 Intermediate High 1+ 6
Advanced Low 4 7 A Advanced Low 2 7
Advanced Mid and higher 4 2+-5 7-12+
Other Questions

What if I still have questions?

Questions about:

Reference: Board Policy 2409