The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has completed the annual review of approved tests for use during the 2012–2013 school year in the identification of students of limited English proficiency as well as entry/exit from bilingual education and special language programs, in accordance with 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §89.1225(d) relating to Testing and Classification of Students:

(d) The grade levels and the scores on each test which shall identify a student as limited English proficient shall be established by TEA. The commissioner of education shall review the approved list of tests, grade levels, and scores annually and update the list.

The 2012–2013 List of Approved Tests for Assessment of LEP Students can be accessed from the TEA webpage at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=4098. The document includes a list of the

Test publishers and contact information.

The testing instruments are grouped in the following categories:

Oral Language Proficiency Tests in English: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades PreK-12 and for exit in Grades 1–12
Oral Language Proficiency Tests in Spanish: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades where bilingual education is offered
Reading Proficiency Tests in English: may be used for placement or to show progress in English reading
Writing Proficiency Tests in English: may be used for grades in which a STAAR or TAKS writing score is not available.
Reading and Writing Proficiency Tests in Spanish: may be used for placement or to show progress in Spanish reading and writing
Norm-Referenced Standardized Achievement Tests in English: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades 2–12. Only for those students for which the test is a valid measure [19 TAC §89.1225(b)(f) and 19 TAC §89.1225(2)(C)] and for exit in grades 1–2
Norm-Referenced Standardized Achievement Tests in Spanish: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades where bilingual education is offered
Ability Tests for Gifted/Talented (G/T): may be used for identification of LEP students who are identified as G/T (Districts may find that these are the most appropriate assessments for identifying students for both LEP and G/T services.)

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Susie Coultress, State Director of Bilingual/ESL/Title III/Migrant in the Curriculum Division by email susie.coultress@tea.state.tx.us or by phone at (512) 463-9581.

Sincerely,

Anita Givens

Associate Commissioner

Standards and Programs

Page last modified on 6/1/2012.