Legal Aid Society of New York

English Language Learners

If your child is an English Language Learner (ELL):

If your child is an English Language Learner (ELL), please select one of the following to find the applicable promotion standards:

• If your child has been enrolled in an English language school system for less than 2 years, click here.
• If your child has been enrolled in an English language school system for between 2 and 3 years, click here.
• If your child has been enrolled in an English language school system for more than 3 years, click here.

What is an English Language Learner (ELL)?

If your child has been enrolled in an English language school system for less than 2 years:

If your child is an English Language Learner (ELL), but has been enrolled in an English language school system for less than 2 years, then your child is exempt from promotion standards.

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If your child has been enrolled in an English language school system for between 2 and 3 years:

All ELL students who have been enrolled in an English language school system for less than 3 years are exempt from the English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment and Mathematics Assessment.> If your child is an English Language Learner (ELL), and has been enrolled in an English language school system for between 2 and 3 years, then your child's promotion is based upon a comprehensive assessment of his or her performance.

In order to be promoted from Fourth to Fifth Grade, your child must pass a comprehensive assessment that takes into account:

• English Proficiency and ESL performance.
• • Whether your child has achieved a satisfactory level of proficiency in English in the NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT).
  • Whether your child has either performed satisfactorily at beginning/intermediate ESL levels (also referred to as 'ESL literacy development') or has met the standards of advanced/transitional ESL levels (also referred to as 'Primary Literacy Standards').
• Mathematics Performance.
• • Whether your child has either performed satisfactorily in mathematics, taught using ESL methodologies, or has met New York State learning standards, taught in your child's native language or through ESL methodologies.
  • Whether your child scored at a Proficiency Level 2 or above on a standardized mathematics test.
• Attendance. Attendance of 90% is expected.

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If your child has been enrolled in an English language school system for more than 3 years:

If your child is an English Language Learner (ELL), and has been enrolled in an English language school system for more than 3 years, then your child is held to the standard promotion criteria unless your child has otherwise been approve for an extension of services. Absent this approval, your child will be promoted from Fourth to Fifth Grade if he or she:

• Standardized Tests.
• • Scores at (or above) Proficiency Level 2 on the NYS assessment in Language Arts.
  • Scores at (or above) Proficiency Level 2 on the NYS assessment in Mathematics.
• Grades and Teacher Evaluation.
• • Meets the New York State Learning Standards in Language Arts and Mathematics, as shown by:
  • • Student work.
    • Teacher observation.
    • Grades.
  • Attendance. Attains 90% attendance.

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