In general, English Language Learners are no longer classified as LEP once they have attained the language skills necessary to learn in age and grade appropriate settings in all areas of language development without the use of adapted or modified English materials.

Montana's definition of proficiency is based on input from school and district staff members that serve LEP students across the state, a review of practices in other states, and input from psychometricians.  Montana observes the following definition of proficiency.  This definition was adopted in August, 2012.

• At a minimum, an overall score of 5.0 along with a rating of 4.0 in literacy (reading and writing) on the ACCESS for ELLs English language proficiency assessment;

and

• Input from additional measures of reading, writing, or language development available from school assessments. 

STEP 1:

Has the student achieved English language proficiency according to Montana's definition of Proficiency?  Consider English language proficiency data from the ACCESS and ELLs assessment.  Data from the ACCESS for ELLs English language proficiency assessment are found on the teacher or student roster score reports that are delivered to districts in early spring and are stored in the students' accumulative folders.

• The reading CRT (Did the student score proficient or above?)
• Classroom or school assessments of reading comprehension and writing (Is the student meeting grade level expectations in the area of reading comprehension?)
• Input from general education and content teachers