Laws regulating ELD programs state that the school must assess the student's fluency in his or her first language within 90 days of enrollment.
Spanish Speakers:
For Spanish speakers, the test that SMMUSD uses is the LAS-II test. Students who enrolled for Fall are pulled out of class to take the LAS-II after CELDT testing is done in November.
Non-Spanish Speakers:
For non-Spanish speakers, a questionnaire called the SOLOM is sent home. The parents answer the questions to help the school assess their child's proficiency. The school keeps the SOLOM on file.
What the Scores Mean:
The student's score on the primary language assessment does not affect their English class placement but it might help the school figure out what the problem is if a student is not successful in their English classes.