US Department of Education Relaxes First Year Testing Provisions

Under the new regulations announced on February 19, 2004, by the US Department of Education, states will be permitted to grant a one-year transition period for English-language learners in their first year in U.S. public schools. This means that states and local school districts could exempt first year students from taking the reading/language arts assessment, but would have to take the mathematics assessment, with accommodations if appropriate. However, states would not have to include these scores in the AYP calculations. In addition, for AYP calculations, states would be allowed for up to two years to include in the ELL subgroup students who have attained English. These students would still be required to take the English proficiency test.