Guidelines for Awarding Grades for Elementary English Learners

Below are recommendations for report card grades for elementary English learners (ELs). These should be considered as guidelines with the understanding that ELs progress at different rates and vary by ability between and within proficiency levels. As a general rule, traditional grades should be awarded as assessments are modified and scaffolded to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts through non-traditional means. ELs should not receive grades of F unless classroom teachers are implementing modifications to instruction and to assessments with fidelity.

Grade Proficiency level level 1.0 – 1.9 2.0 – 2.9 3.0 – 3.0 4.0 – 4.9 5.0 – 5.9 K-1 No grades below a 2. All grades Traditional Traditional grades Traditional grades Traditional grades should be accompanied by grades with with some with limited with limited comments that reflect significant differentiation for differentiation for differentiation for differentiation. differentiation instruction. F’s are instruction and/or instruction and/or for instruction generally not assessments assessments and appropriate. Modifications to be Modifications to be assessments to Modifications to be noted in teacher noted in teacher reflect student noted in teacher comments. comments. progress. F’s comments. are generally not appropriate. Modifications to be noted in teacher comments. 2-5 Grades of C or better with Traditional Traditional grades Traditional grades Traditional grades comments that reflect grades with with some with limited with limited differentiation. significant differentiation for differentiation for differentiation for differentiation instruction. instruction and/or instruction and/or for instruction F’s are generally not assessments assessments and appropriate. Modifications to be Modifications to be assessments. Modifications to be noted in teacher noted in teacher F’s are noted in teacher comments. comments. generally not comments. appropriate. Modifications to be noted in teacher comments.

For a detailed explanation of the proficiency levels, please review the Performance Definitions for WIDA’s Levels of English Language Proficiency at http://www.wida.us/standards/elp.aspx .

*All ELs, levels 1-5, are entitled to accommodations for SOL tests. These accommodations are documented on the LEP Participation Plan. The accommodations must be in place throughout the school year for any student who is going to use them on the SOL test/s. For more information on accommodations, please contact your school testing coordinator or the ESL specialist.