Glossary


 * GLOSSARY of Common ELL Acronyms**

• **AMAOs** – Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives – Under Title III, AMAOs are state-defined achievement targets that will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of language instructional programs. These targets determine if ELL students are making progress in learning English in the domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

• **AYP** – Adequate Yearly progress – Individual state’s measures of yearly progress toward achieving state academic standards. It sets minimum level of improvement that states, school districts and schools must achieve each year. This data will be disaggregated for ELL students and is required under Title I **.**

• **BICS/CALP** //BICS// – Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills: The language used for conversation by students; often referred to as “playground English.” Students can become fluent in BICS in 2-3 years. The language ability required for verbal face-to-face communication //CALP// – Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency: The language needed for the content area classroom. It often takes students 5-7 years to acquire CALP. The language ability required for academic achievement.  • **ELDA** – English Language Development Assessment. Test required by State of Nebraska for Title III.

• **ELL** – English Language Learner: Students whose first language is not English and who are in the process of learning English. This term is often used interchangeably with LEP or Limited English Proficient.

• **ESL** – English as a Second Language: An educational approach specifically designed to teach English to ELL students.

• **ESOL** – English Speakers of Other Languages. .

• **FEP** – Fluent (or fully) English Proficient..  • **IPT** – IDEA Proficiency Test. Another test of English Proficiency that can be administered to determine placement.

• **L1** – A student’s first language or native language.

• **L2** – A second language learned by a student. Sometimes referred to as the Target Language.

• **LAS** – Language Assessment Scales (also LAS-O is Language Assessment Scale-Oral). Similar to IPT, this is a test used for placement of ELL students.

• **LEP** – Limited English Proficient: A student who has a first language other than English and has difficulty speaking, listening, speaking, and writing to allow them to function in the content classroom and meet state content standards.

• **LFS** – Limited Formal Schooling: A student who is in 4th grade and above according to age/grade placement with limited literacy skills in any language.

• **LEARNS** – “Leading Educational Achievement through Rigorous Nebraska Standards”: Nebraska academic content standards for reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and history.

• **Monitoring** – Students who have met district exit criteria but are formally monitored/reviewed to ensure that they are successful in the content area classroom.

• **NEP** – Non-English Proficient.

• **NCLB** – No Child Left Behind: The act authorized by Congress to and signed by President Bush in January 2002. This law is the education reform plan of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. (ESEA).

• **Native language proficiency** – The ability of a student to speak, read, write, and understand their native or home language.

**NeSA** - Nebraska State Accountability: These statewide assessments for math, reading are administered to all Nebraska public school students in grades 3 through 8 and 11. The NeSA-Writing assessment is administered to grades 4, 8, and 11. The NeSA-Science is administered to grades 5, 8, and 11.

• **OCR** – Office of Civil Rights: A government agency that provides technical assistance and monitors compliance with all Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

• **PHLOTE** – Primary Home Language Other Than English.

• **Primary language** – The language in which bilingual speakers are most fluent, or which they prefer to use. This is not necessarily the first language learned.

• **STARS** –“School-based, Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting System”: The Nebraska Assessment system that uses locally designed assessment in combination with national tests and a statewide writing assessment to determine the performance of students on the academic content standards.

• **TESOL** – Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages: A national professional organization that has developed national ESL standards for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade.

• **Title III** – Authorized under NCLB, this Title is formula funded and based on the number of LEP students in a state/district. The focus is on assisting school districts in teaching English to LEP students and in helping these students meet challenging State standards.

• **Transition** - Students who perform with an advanced degree of language proficiency but may not have passed the district language assessments and/or met the district exit criteria.

From: [] Nebraska ELL Guidelines 2004. http://www.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/ocr/ell/glossary.html