Subject: English Language Learners
Grade Level(s): 3 – 12
Measures Growth: No
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ELDA (English Language Development Assessment) is a battery of tests designed to measure annual progress in the acquisition of English language proficiency skills among non-native English speaking students in grades 3-12. The battery consists of separate tests for listening, speaking, reading, and writing, at each of three grade clusters: 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 and a separate K-2 Inventory.
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • It is hard to use the data
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Submitted by Ann in Valga County on April 22, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Cons: Difficult to administer • Results are not returned quickly • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
The kindergarten-2 inventory is difficult to use and does not need to be used for kindergarten students as they will be enrolled in the ESL program for a minimum of 2 years.
Submitted by CC in Tennessee on April 14, 2013
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • It is hard to use the data
This test takes a lot of time to administer since the speaking portion must be administered to each student one-on-one. Results are not returned until after the school year ends. Students who have taken the test multiple times have commented that the test is "the same" each years. The questions are identical.
Submitted by Kristi in Tennessee on April 9, 2013
Cons: Takes students too long to complete
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
The K-2 portion should be changed from the inventories.
Submitted by Carla in Tennessee on April 22, 2012
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly • Data I receive helps me understand where I am teaching well and where I need to improve
Cons: Results are not returned quickly
This test is more representative of what is expected of a second language learner and should count toward the ESL teachers' evaluation instead of the TCAP.
Submitted by Elisabeth in Tennessee on February 1, 2012
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer • Helps me track my students' learning gains over the course of the school year • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Results are not returned quickly
ELDA is a very good assessment, however, there is an extremely long waiting period to receive the students' results. You receive them the next school year and hope to be able to place them if they are still enrolled in your school. It is very thorough in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The writing portion is good practice for the TCAP. Security measures are EXTREMELY high.
Submitted by CRYSTAL in Tennessee on January 24, 2012
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