ACT Now Accommodates ELL

With the passing of Proposition 58, California voters have opened doors to the opportunity of bilingual education in many other ways. Test makers for the ACT have just announced accommodations will be made for ELL learners beginning next school year. Accommodations will include, directions in the student's native language, bilingual glossaries (without definitions), and additional testing time in separate rooms. Many believe these accommodations will level the playing field for students and ensure all students will be able to show what they have learned. Students whose primary language is not English will now be able to show proficiency and mastery despite not being fluent in English.

Although some see this as an effort to gain money and competition against the SAT as it does not offer accommodations, it is still getting much praise. I think it is about time ELL students have the testing field equaled so they can showcase their knowledge and mastery of skills. How else will we truly know what they have retained if these accommodations are not made? It seems unfair to me to not make the accommodations, so I believe this is a great thing for students!


Source: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/nov/21/test-maker-announces-special-accommodations-englis/