English Learner (EL)

See Student Registration. It is the responsibility of the school and test site administrator to provide adequate time and space to allow for extended test time for EL. Test times cannot be split over multiple sittings or periods, as this would jeopardize the validity of the test. 

CTECS offers accommodations for students identified as English Learners (EL). The universal accessibility feature and accommodations are listed below:      

• An extended-time accommodation of 90 additional minutes is added to the standard testing session (also 90 minutes) for a total test time of 180 minutes. The test session may not be split up into multiple test sessions or given over a multi-day period.
• A text-to-speech (audio) accommodation may be provided to allow the option of listening to the questions. Questions are pre-recorded and read by a professional reader, not by a computerized voice. To minimize distractions for other students testing, headphones must be provided by the school. When beginning the test, the student must click on the speaker icon to hear the audio. Using the audio feature requires additional bandwidth, so there may be slower response times during testing. CTECS recommends using wired computer Internet connections to minimize the effects. In addition, the selected media player needs to be up to date.
• A read-aloud accommodation may be provided by an aide or test proctor who will read the entire test aloud to the test taker (the accommodation of extended time may also be required). Note: Items on the assessment are randomized so more than one reader may be required if several students are using the read-aloud accommodation during the same testing session. This is arranged at the test site by the test site administrator or test proctor.
• A test-item enlargement, universal accessibility feature is permitted, however, the test site administrator will need to check for computer compatibility. This is arranged at the test site by the test site administrator or test proctor and is typically handled by manual enlargement features provided by the computer and display.

• Other than the print-based, word-to-word bilingual dictionary (see requirements below) CTECS does not allow any further instructional resources, which includes but is not limited to student devices or smart phones.

CTECS offers a direct linguistic accommodation for students identified as English Learner (EL). 
A print-based, word-to-word bilingual dictionary may be used.  

Requirements, Definitions and Guidelines for Use of a Print-Based, Word-to-Word Bilingual Dictionary  

• Only identified EL students can use a print-based, word-to-word bilingual dictionary
• The word-to-word bilingual dictionary must not contain definitions, meanings, or examples of any words or phrases.
• No other supplementary dictionaries are allowed. English or any other dictionaries are not allowed.
• The word-to-word bilingual dictionary must be a paper dictionary. Electronic/digital bilingual dictionaries or other translation devices or applications are not allowed. 
• The separate word-to-word bilingual dictionary must be individually offered to each identified EL to have this accommodation for testing, not shared among test takers. 
• The word-to-word bilingual dictionary must not be a specialized dictionary, such as a subject-specific dictionary, rhyming dictionary, picture dictionary. 
• The word-to-word bilingual dictionary must be school-provided, not student-owned.
• The word-to-word bilingual dictionary must not be altered with hand-written notes in the margins nor include additional materials, such as class notes. 
• As best practice, the word-to-word bilingual dictionary should be familiar to the EL. WRS testing should not be the first time the EL student uses a bilingual dictionary. 

CTECS defers to school and state policy when identifying EL students. However, in order for EL students to receive the accommodations, they must be identified on the student registration form submitted prior to the testing session. The use of any of the above accommodations must be based on the EL Student Assessment Participation Plan. The test site administrator should ensure test proctors know which accommodations each student will be using and how to administer them. Further, the universal accessibility feature and accommodations should not be introduced to the student for the first time during the administration of the CTECS Workplace Readiness Skills Assessment©.