Source: https://avantassessment.com/texas-cbe-documents
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 16:25:29+00:00

Document:
In summer of 2017, Avant Assessment was approached by various district supervisors in Texas who wanted to use Avant’s standards-based language proficiency assessments to award credit-by-exam (CBE) in Texas. The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Languages Other Than English (LOTEs) regulations established that starting in the 2017-2018 year and subsequent years, all districts in Texas offering foreign language classes would have to adhere to the guidelines established in Chapter 114 of the Texas Administrative Code.
Chapter 114 outlines the range of proficiency required of students in levels I – VII of foreign language courses, as well as exceptions that are made to the requirements depending on whether students have had prior formal education in the language and whether the language being assessed is a non-logographic language (i.e, Spanish, French, German, etc) or a logographic language (i.e, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Hebrew, Japanese, etc). Students with prior formal instruction in the language they are testing in need only score 70% or above in order to be awarded credit for a certain level, whereas students with no prior education in the language must attain 80% or more in order to earn credit for a given level. For non-logographic languages, all four skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening) are required to be at the same proficiency range for a given level, whereas the requirements for Reading and Writing are lower than for Speaking and Listening for logographic languages.
After several months of mathematical pondering, of very close readings of the TEKS documentation, as well as of many conversations with the district supervisors, Avant’s team of assessment experts developed the two official Avant matrices for TEKS for LOTEs in Texas; one for non-logographic languages and one for logographic languages. We call them the Avant – TEKS matrices. The version of the TEKS for LOTEs credit-by-exam matrices developed by Avant, as well as their accompanying software implementation in Excel that automatically calculates whether students have qualified for CBE credit or not, make it very easy for teachers, schools, and districts to use scores on Avant’s assessments to award CBE credit in Texas. Avant’s Excel implementation of our matrices will automatically display which TEKS CBE level(s) each student qualifies for given their STAMP or WorldSpeak scores across the four skills. Avant’s solution is fully aligned with the TEKS for LOTEs regulations and is in operational use across several districts in Texas.
To hear how Stephany Sipes (World Language Coordinator in PLANO ISD) has successfully used Avant’s STAMP 4S and WorldSpeak tests to recognize the language proficiency of hundreds of students in her district, click here. To see an example of our matrices for non-logographic and logographic languages, please see the documentation below or download it here.
If you are a district supervisor of LOTEs and would like to know more about how Avant’s credit-by-exam solution can benefit your own district in Texas, we look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to discuss how Avant’s assessments can be used for credit-by-exam purposes in states other than Texas, we will be glad to discuss this with you as well.
Has prior instruction in the language?
STAMP/WS level 4 = Intermediate-Low, STAMP/WS level 5 = Intermediate-Mid, STAMP/WS level 6 = Intermediate-High, STAMP/WS level 7 = Advanced-Low, STAMP/WS level 8 = Advanced-Mid, STAMP/WS level 9 = Advanced-High.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Reading) Does not comprehend sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I. Minimally comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I. Adequately comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I. Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Listening) Does not comprehend sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I. Minimally comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I. Adequately comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I. Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Speaking) Does not present information orally using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I. Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level I. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Writing) Does not present information in writing using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I. Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level I. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
*These include English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Filipino, Portuguese, Polish, Somali Maay, Somali Maxaa, Vietnamese, Yup’ik, and others.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Reading) Does not comprehend simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II. Minimally comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II. Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Listening) Does not comprehend simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II. Minimally comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II. Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Speaking) Does not present information orally using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II. Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of phrases and sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level II. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Writing) Does not present information in writing using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II. Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of phrases and sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level II. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Reading) Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III. Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Listening) Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III. Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Speaking) Does not present information orally using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III. Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Writing) Does not present information in writing using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III. Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Reading) Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV. Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV. Adequately uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Listening) Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV. Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV. Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV. Adequately uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Speaking) Does not present information orally using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV. Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of sentences and connected discourse with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV. Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV. Adequately communicates orally using appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Writing) Does not present information in writing using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV. Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of sentences and connected discourse with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV. Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV. Adequately communicates in writing using appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.
Has prior instruction in the langauge?
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Reading) Does not comprehend sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I.
- 5 points Minimally comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I.
20.5 points Adequately comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I.
24.5 points Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
Interpretive Mode of Communication (Listening) Does not comprehend sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I.
19 points Adequately comprehends sentence-length information from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within highly contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level I.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Speaking) Does not present information orally using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I.
- 5 points Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level I.
19 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I.
24.5 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
Presentational Mode of Communication (Writing) Does not present information in writing using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I.
- 5 points Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level I.
20.5 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of words and phrases and some simple sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level I.
24.5 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
*These include Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, and others. For these languages, a proficiency level in the lower level of the range noted above is sufficient to meet the requirements in Reading and Writing for this level.
- 5 points Does not comprehend simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
16 points Minimally comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
21 points Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
24.5 points Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
- 6 points Does not comprehend simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources.Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
- 5 points Minimally comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
18.5 points Adequately comprehends simple connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level II.
-6 points Does not present information orally using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
- 5 points Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of phrases and sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
18.5 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
24.5 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
- 5 points Does not present information in writing using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
16 points Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of phrases and sentences with minimally appropriate and minimally applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
21 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases and sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level II.
24.5 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
- 5 points Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
16 points Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
21 points Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
24.5 points Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
- 6 points Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
- 5 points Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
18.5 points Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level III.
-6 points Does not present information orally using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
- 5 points Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
18.5 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
24.5 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
- 5 points Does not present information in writing using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
16 points Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
21 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of phrases, sentences, and strings of sentences with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level III.
24.5 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
- 5 points Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
16 points Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
21 points Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
24.5 points Adequately uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.
- 6 points Does not comprehend connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Does not use the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
- 5 points Minimally comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with minimally appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
18.5 points Adequately comprehends connected statements from culturally authentic print, digital, audio, and audiovisual materials as appropriate within contextualized situations and sources. Uses the interpretive mode in communication with appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes at level IV.
-6 points Does not present information orally using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
- 5 points Presents information orally using a minimal mixture of sentences and connected discourse with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
18.5 points Adequately presents information orally using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
24.5 points Adequately communicates orally using appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.
- 5 points Does not present information in writing using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
16 points Presents information in writing using a minimal mixture of sentences and connected discourse with minimally appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
21 points Adequately presents information in writing using a mixture of sentences and connected discourse with appropriate and applicable grammar structures and processes at level IV.
24.5 points Adequately communicates in writing using appropriate and applicable grammatical structures and processes in the target language at level V.

References: V.

 V.

 V.

 V.

 V.

 V.