Promoting Equitable Reclassification of English Learners with Disabilities 2 Reclassification State Policies: Current Trends and Findings A review of current reclassification policies indicates that states have developed three primary pathways to exiting ELs with disabilities: (1) standard policies, (2) alternate policies, and (3) exemption policies. Standard policies are intended for all ELs who take the general ELP assessment, including those with disabilities. Alternate policies pertain to ELs with significant cognitive disabilities who participate in alternate ELP assessments. Exemption policies is an umbrella term for waivers that allow either individual students or specific student populations, such as ELs with disabilities, to be exempted from certain reclassification criteria. Trends in Standard Policies In accordance with federal guidance, all 50 states and the District of Columbia use standardized ELP assessment scores as the anchoring reclassification criterion (U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] & U.S. Department of Education [ED], 2015). Forty-two states use ELP assessment scores as the sole criterion for reclassification. Across all policies, the composite proficiency score or level operates as the primary cut score. Some states, however, require additional cut scores for components of the ELP assessments, including either (1) literacy composite scores or (2) domain scores (i.e., listening, speaking, reading, or writing scores). In addition to meeting ELP cut scores, nine states require additional evidence of English proficiency for ELs to exit (Table 1). The evidence varies but commonly includes scores on standardized academic or reading assessments, teacher or team input, and other local evidence (e.g., class assessments, observation of student in content-area courses). Other less common evidence includes class performance, student portfolios, and parent/family consultation (Figure 1). To exit under a standard policy, ELs with disabilities, like their EL peers, must meet these the specified criteria. For more detailed information regarding specific states’ standard reclassification policies, see interactive reclassification map in Figure 3. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Other Local Evidence Teacher/Team Input Student Portfolio Parent Consultation Standardized Academic/Reading Assessments Class/Course Performance Number of States Figure 1. Other evidence besides ELP scores used to exit ELs
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