2010 Campus Test
Coordinator Training
LAT (Linguistically
Adapted Testing)
April 20, 2010
Trainer – John Thornell
Executive Director of Assessment
Hays Consolidated Independent School District
2010
What is LAT?
• LAT means “Linguistically
Accommodated Testing” and
involves providing linguistic
accommodations during TAKS
testing to assist students in
overcoming language barriers which
provides a more meaningful
assessment of academic knowledge
and skills.
2010
Why Do We Do LAT Testing?
• To meet NCLB requirements for testing all students
including English language learners (ELL) who have very
limited English language skills that are exempt from
state TAKS testing under state law.
• Therefore the only grades and subjects where LAT
testing exists are those grades and subjects required by
NCLB. (Grades 3-8 & 10, reading and math. Grades 5, 8,
& 10 in science.)
• There is no LAT testing for grades 9, 11, or 12 for any
subject.
• There is no LAT testing for social studies or writing at any
grade.
• Even though NCLB requires science testing, it is not
currently used in determining AYP ratings.
2010
LAT Accommodations Must Parallel
Classroom Instruction
2010
• The English Language Proficiency Standards
(ELPS) require school districts to linguistically
accommodate the instruction of English
Language Learners (ELLs) in all subjects
• Only allowable linguistic accommodations
that have been used routinely in instruction
and assessment may be afforded to students
during their LAT administration
• Linguistic accommodations used on LAT must
be documented in the student’s LPAC
paperwork.
AYP Inclusion
Subject
Math
Reading
and
ELA
School Yr.
in U.S.
AYP
Participation
AYP
Performance
1st
2nd and 3rd


*

TELPAS
Reading
1st

*
LAT
2nd and 3rd


Test
LAT
* = not evaluated for AYP
Science results are not used in AYP Ratings even though
NCLB requires science testing.
2010
Who is Eligible to Take LAT Tests?
• In Mathematics and Science grades 3-8 & 10
– students who are eligible to receive a LEP
exemption from state TAKS testing according
to Texas policy.
• In Reading 3-8 and ELA at grade 10 –
students who are eligible to receive a LEP
exemption from state TAKS testing according
to Texas policy AND are in their second or
third school year of enrollment in U.S.
schools
2010
Testing Materials Used for LAT
• TAKS LAT test booklets. All TAKS LAT test booklets say
LAT on the booklet.
– TAKS and TAKS-Accommodated test takers use the
same test booklet for LAT. LAT test booklets do not
have field test items included and they are
formatted like TAKS-Accommodated test booklets.
• For TAKS–M the regular booklet is used. “LAT” does
not appear on the cover.
• Secure Linguistic Simplification Guides (used for math
and science only) – They also say LAT on them.
• Answer documents – use the regular TAKS/TAKSAccommodated and TAKS-M answer documents.
(Except for grade 10 ELA LAT answer document says
LAT).
2010
LAT Tests are Shorter than TAKS
• LAT tests are shorter than TAKS tests because
there are no embedded field-test items
• Because regular TAKS answer documents are
used for LAT administrations in grades 4–8 and
10 (math), students will not use all spaces on the
answer document
• To address this situation, administration
directions instruct test administrators to say, for
example:
“Stop when you get to the last page of your
booklet. Your last test question is NUMBER #.
This is where your test ends. You will not use all
the circles on your answer document.”
2010
LAT Test Administrator Manuals
• There is one LAT test administrator
manual for grades 3-8 & 10 that
encompasses all LAT administrations.
• Exception: For LAT administrations of
TAKS–M, test administrators will use
the TAKS–M test administrator manual,
which contains LAT information in
Appendix A.
2010
Secure Linguistic
Simplification Guides (LSGs)
• These are produced for LAT administrations
of TAKS math and science. The guides are
printed by grade and subject. The guides are
not available for TAKS–M.
• There are no LSG guides for reading/ELA.
• The guides are secure and may be viewed
only during the test administration.
2010
LAT Testing Schedule / Calendar
LAT Testing
LAT Math
Grades 3,4,6,7,10
April 26, 2010
LAT Reading/ELA (2 Days)
Grades 3,4,6,7,10
April 27-28, 2010
LAT Science
Grades 5, 8, 10
April 30, 2010
LAT Math
Grades 5, 8
May 17, 2010
LAT Reading (2 Days)
Grade 5, 8
May 18-19, 2010
• All tests must be administered
on the scheduled day.
• All tests must be administered
in strict accordance with the
instructions contained in the
test administration manuals.
2010
Big Testing Week by the day
2010
Make Up Testing
2010
• LAT Make-up testing is permitted and will
follow the general TAKS make-up schedule.
(see page 180 in the DCCM)
• That will be two make up days (Thur & Fri)
for grades 3,4,6,7,& 10 reading & math but
no make-up opportunity for grades 5,8, &
10 science. In May, there will be a single
make-up day for LAT (May 20th).
• The two days of LAT Reading must be given
in order; day 1 then day 2.
• Just like TAKS, the student must be absent
on the scheduled testing day in order to be
eligible for make up testing.
Types of LAT Accommodations
• There are two types of LAT Accommodations.
– Indirect Support Accommodations
– Direct Support Accommodations
• Indirect support accommodations do not
have to be specified in the LPAC minutes and
are provide as needed to all LAT test
administrations.
• Direct support accommodations differ by
subject tested and must be specified by the
LPAC for use in regular instruction and
assessment.
2010
LAT Indirect Support
Accommodations
Math/Science
Reading/ELA
Clarification of
test directions


Breaks at
request of
student


Testing over
2 days
*
Note: These are to be provided for all LAT administrations.
2010
* Testing over two days for TAKS–M reading/ELA is optional. The
LPAC and ARD committee should decide in advance whether the
student should complete the test in 1 or 2 days.
LAT Math and Science Direct
Support Accommodations
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
2010
Linguistic simplification*
Oral translation
Reading assistance
Bilingual dictionary
Bilingual glossary
English and Spanish tests side by side (grades 3-5)*
The first three are provided only at the request of
the student while the last three are things the
student uses as needed during testing.
* TAKS–M exceptions - next slide
TAKS–M Exceptions
Math/Science Direct Support
• Linguistic simplification is allowed, but linguistic
simplification guides are not available. Test
administrators will follow the guidelines in the Test
Administrator manual to make appropriate linguistic
simplifications.
• Spanish versions of TAKS–M are not available and
therefore Spanish TAKS-M LAT versions are not
available.
• The accommodation of using English and Spanish
tests side by side is not available for TAKS-M
administrations since there is no Spanish version of
TAKS-M available.
2010
Linguistic Simplification
• A student may ask the test administrator to say in simpler
language what a test question is asking. Test administrators may
provide this assistance using simpler words, pictures, and/or
gestures, as long as they do not define or explain mathematical
or scientific terminology or a concept that the test question is
assessing.
• Secure LAT linguistic simplification guides are provided to test
administrators for use with this accommodation in LAT
administrations of TAKS mathematics and science. The guides for
English-version LAT tests provide suggested linguistic
simplifications. For the test versions in both English and Spanish,
the guides delineate which subject-area terms may not be
simplified.
• When necessary, test administrators may provide additional
allowable linguistic simplifications to meet individual students’
needs.
2010
Test Administrators…
• are not permitted to provide any assistance
(reading assistance, translation, linguistic
simplification, glossary/dictionary assistance,
etc.) with symbols (+, -, $, %, decimal point, °C,
etc.), numerical representations (0, 735, -4, 12,
103, etc.), or abbreviations (oz, ft2, etc.)
• are not permitted to point to answer choices
• may not write or draw in the student’s test
booklet, but may do so on a separate sheet of
paper as long as the paper is destroyed
immediately after the test session
2010
Oral Translation
• At the request of a student, the test
administrator may orally translate words,
phrases, and sentences that the student does
not understand.
• Again, the test administrator is NOT
permitted to define or explain mathematical
or scientific terms, concepts, or skills.
• The test administrator is permitted only to
give the equivalent word or words in the
other language.
2010
Reading Assistance
• At the request of the student, the test
administrator may read aloud words, phrases, or
sentences in the test question, prompt, or
answer choices that the student is having
difficulty reading.
• Reading assistance is allowable regardless of
whether the student is using the English version
or the Spanish version of the LAT test form.
• Note that all grade 3 students are permitted to
request reading (decoding) assistance on the
mathematics test. For grade 3 mathematics, it is
not necessary to predetermine and document
this as a LAT accommodation.
2010
Bilingual Dictionary
• Students may use a bilingual dictionary (paper or
electronic) to find the translation of words they do not
understand.
• Bilingual dictionaries that contain explanations,
definitions, pictures, or examples of mathematical or
scientific terminology may NOT be used.
• The following kinds of dictionaries are NOT permitted:
– English dictionaries
– monolingual dictionaries in the student’s native
language (e.g., a Spanish dictionary, a Korean
dictionary, etc.)
– ESL dictionaries that use simplified English words and
pictures
• In other words the dictionary is a word for word
translation dictionary only.
2010
Bilingual Glossary
• Students may use locally developed bilingual
glossaries to find the translation of words they
do not understand.
• The glossary must NOT include definitions,
explanations, examples, or pictures that will aid
students in understanding the mathematical or
scientific terms or concepts assessed.
Note: The difference between a bilingual
dictionary and a bilingual glossary is one is
purchased and one is locally made.
2010
English and Spanish Test
Side-by-Side (grades 3-5)
2010
• For grades 3–5 mathematics and grade 5 science
• A Spanish-speaking student may refer to both the
English version and Spanish-version LAT tests to
enhance comprehension. If a student does not
understand something in one language, the student
may refer to it in the other language.
• For grade 3 it is recommended that students who are
being allowed the side-by-side accommodation not be
issued both test booklets. It is preferred that they
request to see specific items in the other language.
The reason is that only one test booklet is scored.
Note: The English and Spanish versions of the LAT
TAKS tests are translations of one another (content is
identical).
LAT Reading Direct Support
Accommodations
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Bilingual dictionary
English dictionary
Reading aloud – word or phrase
Reading aloud – entire test item
Oral translation – word or phrase
Clarification – word or phrase
The last four are provided only at the request of
the student. The first two are things provided to
the student that they may use as needed during
testing.
Not all of these are allowable for LAT administrations of the writing
sections of grade 10 ELA. See the administration manuals for details.
2010
Bilingual Dictionary
• Students may use a bilingual dictionary
to find the translation of words they do
not understand.
• Paper and electronic bilingual
dictionaries are permitted.
2010
Standard English Dictionary
• Throughout the reading test, a student
may use an English dictionary, ESL
dictionary, or picture dictionary.
(Note that if the student is taking a grades 3–
5 Spanish-version test, the student may use a
Spanish dictionary.)
• Paper and electronic dictionaries are
permitted.
2010
Reading Aloud – Word or Phrase
• At the request of the student, the test
administrator may read aloud words or
phrases in reading selections or test
items.
• Sentences and longer portions of text
may NOT be read aloud.
2010
Reading Aloud – Entire Test Item
• At the request of the student, the test
administrator may read aloud an entire
test item (i.e., test question and answer
choices).
• Voice inflection must be kept neutral
during the reading of test questions
and answer choices.
(In other words you cannot help students
identify the correct answer to the
question.)
2010
Oral Translation – Word or Phrase
• At the request of the student, the test
administrator may orally translate
words or phrases in reading selections
and test items that the student does
not understand.
• The test administrator is NOT
permitted to translate entire
sentences, longer portions of text, or
tested vocabulary words.
2010
Clarification – Word or Phrase
• At the request of the student, the test
administrator may clarify the meaning of a
word or phrase in either a reading selection
or test item that the student does not
understand.
• Synonyms, definitions, explanations,
pictures, and gestures may be used to
provide clarification.
• The test administrator is NOT permitted to
clarify the meaning of entire sentences,
longer portions of text, or tested
vocabulary words.
2010
Test Administration
Procedures
2010
Testing Procedures
• Exactly the same as they are for TAKS. (See pages
73-79 in the LAT Test Administrator Manual.
• Follow the directions in the Test Administrator
Manual.
• Read the testing directions script to students
verbatim but unlike a regular TAKS administration
you can clarify the directions by translating them,
rewording them, or repeating them as needed.
• Prior to the beginning of your LAT session, talk to
the students about the testing process, make them
feel comfortable, and review the linguistic
assistance they will be able to request. (See pages
80-81 in LAT Test Administration Manual)
2010
Marking Score Codes on
the Answer Document
• The “S” score code must
NEVER be filled in for
students taking a LAT test!
• The “L” score code must
ALWAYS be filled in for LAT
administrations ― no
exceptions!
2010
Mark the “L”
score code on ALL
LAT student
answer documents
regardless of
whether or not
they take the test.
2010
LAT INFO
Bubble LAT Info and Accommodations
• LAT Info area of the answer document has two
columns.
– Column A – Mark all that apply – Linguistic
accommodates used. Do not bubble in if the
accommodation is available but not used.
– Column B – Alternate score codes for LAT
administrations – I (incomplete) A (absent)
• Accommodations – document any
accommodations used except for the linguistic
accommodations coded in the LAT info area.
2010
LAT INFO Column A Codes
2010
For LAT Math and Science administrations
1) Linguistic Simplification
2) Oral Translation
3) Reading Assistance
4) Bilingual Dictionary
5) Bilingual Glossary
6) English and Spanish Tests Side-by-side (grades 3-5)
7) Accommodations available but none used.
For LAT Reading / ELA administrations
1) Bilingual Dictionary
2) English Dictionary
3) Reading Aloud – Word or Phrase
4) Reading Aloud – Entire test item
5) Oral Translation – Word or Phrase
6) Clarification – Word or Phrase
7) Accommodations available but none used.
“Accommodations Not Used” Bubble
• Addresses rare situation in which student is
provided with but does not use LAT
accommodations
• Bubble is needed to appropriately report
student as having participated in LAT
administration
• Bubble should not be marked if student
uses at least one approved LAT
accommodation
2010
Coding Area from
the April Grade 5
Answer Document
If student gets ill during
testing then mark the “I”
which is the same as the “O”
score code on regular TAKS
administrations.
If the student is absent then
mark the absence here.
2010
Returning Scorable LAT
Answer Documents
• TAKS LAT answer documents are returned
with your regular TAKS and TAKS
Accommodated scorable answer
documents.
• TAKS-M LAT answer documents are
returned with your regular TAKS-M
answer documents.
• No separate headers (Campus and Group
or Class ID)
2010
You have completed the TAKS
LAT Training.
2010