OSPI adopted the ELPA21 Dynamic Screener in 2017 as an online test to assess a newly enrolled student’s English language capabilities and determine their eligibility for EL services. Next year, Washington State is switching from ELPA21 to WIDA. This upcoming change prompted me to reflect on the implementation of the ELPA21 Screener.

Upon student enrollment guardians fill out a Home Language Survey. If they mark that the student speaks languages other than English, then the student must be screened within ten days of enrollment and upon qualifying begin receiving EL services (WAC 392-160-015). OSPI is not clear whether weekends count as a part of the ten days, which becomes a problem in instances when scoring takes up to seven days. This could potentially occur only in instances when students reach the last part of the test, Step 3. However, if students stop at Step 2, as in the case of new to country students with no English proficiency, then the score is available within hours.

The third step of the ELPA21 Screener is made up of four domains: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. For older students the results of the Screener are generally accurate for the first three domains. The Speaking domain is where students struggle demonstrating their true abilities. Students need to speak into a microphone and record themselves answering a question. The microphone never fails to intimidate. Some younger students refuse to speak. Others are barely audible. Even though the test is administered one on one, most students freeze up at the thought of having their voice recorded.

When kindergartners take the ELPA21 Screener in the beginning of the year, that is a beast unto itself. I work in a high EL, low-income school. We regularly test above thirty kindergarteners every September, yet I cannot think of any kindergartner who would pass this test in September. The Screener includes sight words and letter sound knowledge. Material the students have never covered.

Also, the test for kindergartners must be administered one on one with proctors assisting with the technology aspect of the test, because kindergartners test on ChromeBooks. Some of them may be familiar with how to navigate iPads or touch screen phones, but none of them know how to navigate the computer or use the keyboard and mouse. If they learn during the practice part of the test, then they lack the fine motor skills to drag and drop tiny words into boxes.

Other issues occur when ChromeBooks are out of date and when students transfer with IEPs and 504s, requiring accommodations. Even the state’s calculations for testing time underestimate the amount of time it takes students to complete the Screener.

Although ELPA21 comes with its set of issues, the benefit is in the fact that many other states use the Screener as well and so scores transfer from schools across state lines. Now EL teachers prepare themselves for the new EL screener and summative assessment, WIDA.