California English language Development Test
Facts about CELDT
- School must administer the CELDT for students who have a home language other than English listed on their Home Language Survey until they are FEP.
- Initial CELDT: administered throughout the year as new students first enrolled in a California public school. The Initial CELDT test has to be administered within 30 calendar days after students first enroll.
- Annual CELDT: testing window for annual CELDT is July 1 through October 31. All students who have previously taken CELDT are required to take annual CELDT until they are FEP. No Annual CELDT is allowed to administrate after October 31.
- School must inform parents/guardians of their children's CELDT results within 30 calendar days of receiving the official scores from CDE.
Criteria for Determining English Proficiency
| Fluent English proficiency (FEP) |
Students overall score is Early Advanced (Level 4) or Higher and Each sub skill area score
Additionally, a student may be FEP if: Student's Overall Score is in the upper end of Intermediate (level 3) and
|
| English Learner (EL) |
Students overall score is below Early Advanced or Students Overall Score is early advanced (level 4) or Higher, but one or more of the sub skill area scores is below Intermediate. |
What is the California English Language Development Test?
Federal and state laws require a state test that school districts must give to students whose home language is not English. This test is called a California English Language Development test (CELDT)
What is the purpose of the CELDT?
The purpose of this test is:
- To identify new students who are English learners, in kindergarten through grade twelve.
- To determine their level of English proficiency.
- To monitor their progress in learning English.
Who is an English learner?
In English learner is a student, with a home language other than English, who has not yet proficient in English.
Who must take this CELDT?
All students whose home language is not English must take the test within 30 calendar days after they are enrolled in a California public school for the first time. The CELDT also must be given once each year to English learners until they become proficient in English.
What does the CELDT cover?
The CELDT covers listening and speaking skills for students in kindergarten and grade one. The test for students in grades two through twelve covers listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The CELDT at all grade levels is based on English language development standards, adopted by the State Board of Education.
Who gives the CELDT?
Only trained examiners give the test. The listening and speaking parts of the CELDT are given individually to each student. The reading and writing parts are given to groups of students.
How long does it take for students to complete the CELDT?
The Speaking part of the test takes about 10 to 15 minutes for each student to complete. The listening, reading, and writing parts take about two hours to complete.
How and when do parents/guardians get their child's test results?
As soon as the tests are scored by the testing contractor, the results are returned to the school district. The school district prepares a report of the results for each student and sends it to the parents/guardians.
How are the CELDT results reported for individual students?
There are five levels of English proficiency a student can achieve. They are beginning, early intermediate, intermediate, early advanced, and advanced.
The report for each student provides:
• A proficiency level for each part of the test with student scores
• The students overall English proficiency level for all parts of the test combined an overall student score
How are the results of the CELDT used?
Test results for newly enrolled students are used to help identify English learners who need to develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in English. Results from this CELDT, which is given annually are used to see how well students are learning English. Annual results also are used to help decide when students are fluent English proficient (FEP).
How can parents/guardians find out more about the CELDT or their child's results?
If parents/guardians wish information about the CELDT or their child's results on the CELDT, they should contact their child's teacher and/or school office. Parents/guardians are invited to request a conference to review the CELDT results or to attend one of the information meetings scheduled by the school.
For more information...
http://www.CDE.ca.gov/ta/tg/el