All districts in the Commonwealth must annually assess English learners’ (ELs) language proficiency and academic achievement to determine whether such students are able to do regular schoolwork in English, and to remove the English learner classification once ELs demonstrate the ability to do regular schoolwork in English. Another term used to refer to the process of removing a student’s EL classification is “reclassification”.  NOTE: Students identified as an English learner in Kindergarten MUST remain in the ELD program through grade 1 before being considered for exiting the program.

Franklin considers multiple data sources to identify ELs who may have met both district and state recommended criteria for exiting the English learner program. The district considers this a high-stakes decision because a premature exit (reclassification) may place a student who still has language development needs at risk of academic failure. Conversely, unnecessary prolongation of EL status (particularly at the secondary level) has consequences as well since it can limit educational opportunities, lower teacher expectations, and demoralize students.

ACCESS for ELLs is the state’s language proficiency assessment, and all districts must first consider the results of ACCESS for ELLs to identify students as candidates for reclassification. Once this criterion has been met, school-based teams consider other relevant data to determine whether students can perform ordinary classroom work in English, and whether or not such students should exit the English learner program.

State/District Exit (Reclassification) Criteria:

• ACCESS Test Results - Minimally an overall score of 4.2 and Composite Literacy Score of 3.9

• Classroom Assessment (Classroom teachers/teams complete an Exit Assessment for FEL status form and make a recommendation to exit/reclassify the student)

  • Sample Exit Assessment for FEL Status   (link to doc with same name)

• ELD Teacher Assessment (formal and informal observations and assessments, WIDA MODEL assessment)

• Next Generation MCAS - grades 3-8 mathematics and English language arts (ELA); grades 5, 8 Science and HS ELA, mathematics and science