STELLA Accommodations Tool

This project developed and piloted a web-based tool called STELLA (Selection Taxonomy for English Learner Accommodations) to help content teachers fairly and accurately assess their English Language Learners (ELLs).

The STELLA accommodations tool was primarily designed to identify the most helpful accommodations to use during standardized testing for ELLs with diverse challenges and strengths. Recommendations were based on information gathered from student records, teachers, and parents.

Accommodation methods recommended for use during testing could also be used by teachers to provide more personalized support during classroom instruction and assessment.

Resources

Kopriva, R. J. (2010). The Wyoming STELLA Project: Helping Content Teachers Teach and Assess their English Language Learners. University of Wisconsin–Madison. (PDF)
Zehr, Mary Ann. (2007, February 6). Pilot Program Could Help English Learners. Education Week, https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/pilot-program-could-help-english-learners/2007/02
Kopriva, R. J. & Koran, J. (2008). Proper assignment of accommodations to individual students. In R. J. Kopriva, Improving testing for English language learners: A comprehensive approach to designing, building, implementing, and interpreting better academic assessments (pp. 221-258). New York, NY: Routledge Publishers.

This project was carried out in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Education and funded by the US Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Enhanced Assessment Grant (EAG) Program.