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Meeting Date:
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9/27/2019 - 7:00 PM
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Category:
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Curriculum and Instruction
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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Changes to IKFD-R - Credit-by-Exam for World Languages Regulations: Addition of New World Language Assessments for Credit-by-Exam and Seal of Biliteracy Testing
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ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
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Objective 1.1
Educational Excellence ACPS will regularly assess and respond to the needs, interests, and abilities of individual students. Objective 1.4 Educational Equity ACPS will provide each student with opportunities to be challenged and supported.
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Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
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File Attachment:
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Agenda Item Summary:
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ACPS currently offers Credit-by-Exam for more than 100 World Languages. As more languages are available through nationally-normed assessments, the current list for Credit-by-Exam, the type of exams utilized for each language, and the associated cost for re-takes requires frequent additions. Currently, IKFD-R includes the list of offerings, and therefore any revision to add additional assessments requires Board approval. This request for change is the third revision to these regulations since its inception 18 months ago due to the frequent need to update the current offerings. Staff proposes removing the ever-changing list from Regulation IKFD-R and maintaining the information on the ACPS website. Therefore, any future changes would not require School Board approval.
WorldSpeak, a newly available assessment for World Language proficiency, is being recommended as an assessment for Credit-by-Exam and Seal of Biliteracy testing. WorldSpeak is a computer-based assessment for the following languages: Amharic, Armenian, Chin (Hakha), Czech, Filipino (Tagalog), Haitian- Creole, Hmong, Ilocano, Samoan, Somali Maay Maay, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yup’ik.
In summary, staff proposes the following two changes to the regulation:
a. Removing the list of available language assessments from the regulations as they are already available on the ACPS website; and
b. Adding WorldSpeak, a newly available proficiency assessment.
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Background:
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In April 2018, the School Board approved Policy IKFD: Alternative Paths to Attaining Standard Units of Credit: Credit-by-Exam for World Languages and Regulation IKFD-R. This policy allows students to earn World Language high school credits through Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) approved assessments. In the past year, ACPS contracted with Language Testing International, which offers assessments in over 100 languages. However new assessments, such as WorldSpeak, have become available since that time.
The ever-expanding list of available assessments for World Languages Credit-by-Exam has led to the program’s rapid success after its first full year of implementation.
By allowing students in grades 6-12 who can understand and communicate in other languages to earn up to three credits through approved assessments at no cost, ACPS has enabled more students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy and the Advanced Diploma.
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Recommendation:
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The Superintendent recommends the School Board review the proposed changes to Regulation IKFD-R. If School Board Members are unopposed to such changes, they will become effective on October 4, 2019.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Dr. Terri H. Mozingo - Chief Academic Officer
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Signed By:
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Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent
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