Deadline for Return of Tests Administered During 2007-08 Edition Annual Assessment Window
The California English Language Development Test (CELDT) Annual Assessment (AA) window ended October 31, 2007. School districts are reminded to return completed tests promptly to CTB/McGraw-Hill (CTB), the CELDT test contractor, for scoring. Please note that the last day for requesting pickup of test materials is November 8. The last day that CTB will accept test materials being sent for AA scoring is November 15. For additional information, please contact CTB at 800-994-8594 or by e-mail at ctbceldthelpdesk@ctb.com.
AA tests received by CTB after November 15, 2007, will cause the following outcomes:
- Score reports sent to districts will indicate Test Purpose as “Outside AA Window.”
- Results will not be included in files used to determine Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs).
- Results will not be included in AA summary results posted on the DataQuest Web site.
- Districts sending test materials for scoring after the deadline will be considered to be out of compliance with state and federal requirements.
Extension of Deadlines for Districts Affected by Wildfires
During times of disasters, such as the recent wildfires in Southern California, the California Department of Education (CDE) recognizes the need for flexibility. Therefore, the CDE has examined the deadlines to complete CELDT testing and to schedule pickup of test materials and has made changes for certain school districts. If one or more of your schools closed due to the Southern California wildfires or high winds, you may administer the CELDT for Annual Assessment until Friday, November 9. Additionally, CTB is extending the final date for arrangement for pickup of AA test materials to Wednesday, November 14 and the receipt of these testing materials to Wednesday, November 21, 2007.
Please note that you should complete CELDT testing in time to meet the revised deadlines and prepare materials for shipment. Districts that take advantage of this flexibility must provide a letter to the CDE signed by the school district superintendent verifying the situation prevented the district from complying with original deadlines. Please fax the letter, no later than Tuesday, November 6, to:
Lily Roberts, Ph.D. - Administrator
CELDT/CHSPE/GED Programs Unit
Standards and Assessment Division
California Department of Education
Unit Telephone: 916-319-0784
Fax: 916-319-0967
School districts that did not close schools due to the Southern California wildfires and winds should still comply with the original deadlines related to the AA window for testing and return of materials.
Test Purpose
Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, only school districts may determine the Test Purpose. The test contractor will no longer determine the Test Purpose based on the date of testing. If an answer document arrives without Test Purpose, or the test contractor is unable to determine the Test Purpose, the results will indicate “AA or II Unknown.” “AA or II Unknown” will be printed on the Student Proficiency Level Report (SPLR). Districts may use the Data Review Module (DRM) to correct Test Purpose for all students who have “AA or II Unknown” indicated. Additionally, results not corrected in the DRM will not be included in files used to determine AMAOs and will not be included in summary results posted on the DataQuest Web site.
Beginning with the 2007-08 testing, only enrolled students who are currently identified as English learners and who are tested during the AA window (July 1 – October 31) should have a Test Purpose identified as Annual Assessment. Enrolled students who are currently identified as English learners and are tested after October 31 will be scored, but will not be reported as part of Annual Assessment. Instead, if answer documents for English learners tested after October 31 are sent to the CTB for scoring, the reports sent to the district will indicate “Outside AA Window”, and these results will not be included in the General Research Files (GRF). Consequently, these results will not be included in files used to determine AMAOs and will not be included in summary results posted on the DataQuest Web site.
Test Purpose Description |
Test Purpose |
Included on DataQuest |
|---|---|---|
Initial Identification |
Initial Ident. |
Yes |
Annual Assessment |
Annual Assessment |
Yes |
Annual Assessment – Outside the AA Window |
Outside AA Window |
No |
Test Purpose Unknown (e.g., Invalid marks, double marks or blanks) |
AA or II Unknown |
No |
If an English learner took the CELDT this year (2006-07) and did not take the CELDT last year (2005-06), but did take the CELDT prior to last year, the district should indicate the Test Purpose as Annual Assessment. If there are no scale scores for the year prior to the current year (i.e., 2006-07), do not bubble the previous year, previous grade, or previous scale scores.
Data Analysis and Use Workshops
CTB is providing Data Analysis and Use Workshops through the first week of December throughout the state. These sessions focus on the appropriate interpretation and use of CELDT data. The workshops are planned for participants with data processing skills who work directly with student data files and those who use CELDT data to make educational decisions. More information can be found on the CTB CELDT Web site (Outside Source), the CTB CELDT Help Desk, at 1-800-994-8594, or by e-mail at ctbeldthelpdesk@ctb.com.
Apportionments Reminder
The CDE is required to send annual Apportionment Information Reports (AIR) to school districts for verification by November 15. If you have not received your report by that date, please contact Kerri Wong, Staff Service Analyst, Standards and Assessment Division, at 916-319-0333 or by e-mail at kewong@cde.ca.gov.
When sending the AIR back to the CDE, it must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2007. If the postmark is after December 31, the AIR must be accompanied by a waiver request pursuant to Education Code Section 33050.
More Information
Additional information about the CELDT is available on the CDE CELDT Web site. Questions may be directed to CDE’s CELDT Office by phone at 916-319-0784 or by e-mail at celdt@cde.ca.gov.
