ELLs and EQAO

FIRST

The school administrator, in consultation with parents and appropriate staff will determine, on an individual basis, if a student requires special provisions/accommodations above and beyond the basic provisions made according to the User Guide for the Administration of the Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions.

a

THEN

School administrators ensure the provisions/accommodations are made before administering EQAO.

The provisions/accommodations must be recorded in the e-assessment system.

School Board must ensure the IT department grants access to translation tools to ELLs prior to administering EQAO.

The provisions/accommodations for students on lower STEP levels include
dual language resource for all ELLs (must be monitored to ensure students are translating one word at a time), as well as:
- Extended breaks

- Alternative version

- Verbatim scribing

- Sign language/Oral interpreter

- Additional assistive technology (Google Read & Write/Kurzweil)

Before EQAO

If it is deemed a student cannot complete the assessment despite the provided accommodations, the school administrator, in consultation with parents and appropriate staff will determine, on an individual basis, if a student should be exempt from parts of the EQAO assessment. Exemptions are granted under the following circumstances:

a

Writing:
Students who cannot complete the assessment online or on a printed copy with permitted accommodations.

Reading
If the student has to be read to by a teacher or another adult and cannot complete the assessment online or on a printed copy with permitted accommodations.

Math:
If the student requires mathematics terms to be defined and students who cannot complete the assessment online or on a printed copy with permitted accommodations.

Resources:

Policies and Procedures for Ontario Elementary and Secondary Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12, pg 28

User Guide for the Administration of the Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions

a

User Guide for the Administration of the Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary and Junior Divisions, Supports for Students with Special Education Needs and English Language Learners

a

English Language Learner (ELL) Participation in Primary and Junior EQAO Assessments, 2022, ERGO Memo, April 2020

All ELLs should participate in EQAO if they have acquired the level of proficiency in English required for success (i.e. are on a higher STEP). All ELLs may use a dual language dictionary or resource, translated one word at a time, for writing only, and a dual language resource to translate larger amounts of text for math only. ELLs who require special provisions and/or permitted accommodations are entitled to them, regardless of whether or not they are receiving direct support from an ESL or ELD teacher.
If special provisions need to be made because a student is on a lower STEP (they have not reached the level of proficiency in English required for success), the following process ensues: