program Intake appraisal
and placement
The appraisal and intake process is conducted primarily through the Educational Interviewing class; however, there are two exceptions: I-BEST Orientations and community-based programs with continuous enrollment. The process for each is discussed separately.
Oral Screen and Literacy Appraisal is conducted by the instructor while the aide is managing student discussion groups on Day One of the EI class. The process includes the six-question Oral Screen, a brief writing assessment, optional literacy questions from CASAS Form 27, and optional reading assessment. Click here for detailed instructions. Use the “ESOL CASAS Appraisal Form” stapled to the inside back cover of the student folders to guide your literacy decisions. Use the “Pre- Post-Test CASAS Order Form” to order your pre-tests for Day Three pre-testing.
Writing appraisal is administered to all students who score above six on the Oral Screen, are able to write the requested sentences. The writing prompt is included in the appraisal box. Students who will not do the writing sample will work with the aide on activities designed by the instructor.
Administer Form 80 Reading and Listening Appraisal Tests to students who completed the writing sample. All other students will work with the aide on activities designed by the instructor. The instructor and aide will hand score the appraisal tests. Use the students’ scores and the Suggested Next Test chart for Form 80 Appraisal to determine the appropriate pre-tests.
Modifications and Learning Toolkits available in the EI classrooms provide tools that may help students who appear to need help with visual or aural distractions. These modifications are unlike formal accommodations in that they do not require documentation. Modifications and learning tools are intended to help a student perform at his/her best. For more information, see the Washington State Assessment Policies or refer to the Modifications and Accommodations section of this “document]
Administer the appropriate pre-tests to all students. The literacy level and level one students will also take a pre-test. Literacy level students will take only the reading test (Form 27 or 28); level one students will take the Form 81 Reading and Listening tests.
CASAS scores and state level correlation chart is used along with writing sample to determine level placement.
Complete the “ESOL CASAS Appraisal Form” stapled to the inside back cover of the student folder. For students enrolling in literacy level and level one classes, the form serves as a placement guide. For all other students, the form provides instructors with valuable information regarding appraisal scores and level placement as well as recommended pre-test form. Record any appraisal and placement notes that may help the classroom instructor understand the student’s learning needs or placement.
Appraisal Process for “Open Enrollment” community sites – A few of our community partners require open enrollment for classes held at their facilities (public libraries, for example). In these cases, an aide will typically conduct the testing session to include registration forms, the writing sample, listening and reading appraisal tests. The aide will score the reading and listening tests, convert to a scaled score and identify the appropriate level. The instructor will score the writing sample.
Oral Screen and Literacy Appraisal is conducted by the aide while the instructor is teaching the class. The process includes the six-question Oral Screen, a brief writing assessment, optional literacy questions from CASAS Form 27, and optional reading assessment. Click here for detailed instructions. Students who are placed in literacy levels will be referred to campus to register for a class; all other students who are placed in levels 1-3 will be registered for the class and may begin at that time. The instructor will make placement decisions based on the information collected by the aide. Use the “ESOL CASAS Appraisal Form” stapled to the inside back cover of the student folders to guide literacy decisions.
Writing appraisal is administered to all students who score above six on the Oral Screen, and are able to write the requested sentences. The writing prompt is included in the appraisal materials box and will be scored by the instructor. To score the writing, use the NRS Functioning Level Table (intake level descriptors) and the Washington State Writing Standards (outcome descriptors) to determine as nearly as possible the appropriate level. Existing rubrics and anchors have not been calibrated to the revised federal and state levels.
Administer Form 80 Reading and Listening Appraisal Tests to students who completed the writing sample. Use the students’ scores and the Suggested Next Test chart for Form 80 Appraisal [link to N drive or other] to determine the appropriate pre-tests.
Modifications may be available to help students who appear to need help with visual or aural distractions. These modifications are unlike formal accommodations in that they do not require documentation. Modifications and learning tools are intended to help a student perform at his/her best. Click here for more information about Testing Modifications [link to N drive or other].
CASAS scores and state level correlation charts [link to correlation chart] are used along with writing sample by the instructor to determine level placement.
Complete the “ESOL CASAS Appraisal Form” [link to form on N drive or other] stapled to the inside back cover of the student folder. For students enrolling in literacy level and level one classes, the form serves as a placement guide. For all other students, the form provides instructors with valuable information regarding appraisal scores and level placement as well as recommended pre-test form. Record any appraisal and placement notes that may help the classroom instructor understand the student’s learning needs or placement.
Completed student registration forms and folders are returned to the office (RLC 125) by the instructor.
The Appraisal Process for I-BEST Orientations – Because I-BEST serves students in both ESOL and ABE, instructors participating in the appraisal process must be aware of several differences in the strategies.
Oral Screen and Literacy Appraisal is far less crucial to the I-BEST appraisal process than to the EI or “open enrollment” classes. Students either applying for – or referred by a partner agency to – I-BEST courses will most likely be above ESOL literacy and beginning levels. On occasion, you may find a student that requires you to conduct the oral screen and literacy Educational Interview appraisal process. However, these students would not be eligible for I-BEST courses, and should be referred to the appropriate ESOL class.
Writing appraisal will be administered to all ESOL and ABE students applying for I-BEST courses. Students will write to a “picture prompt” included in the appraisal testing box. Test proctors will score the writing sample using the rubrics and “anchors” included. Unless the writing level is very high or very low, I-BEST ABE and/or ESOL instructors will read the sample and make a level determination.
Modifications available in the testing rooms provide tools that may help students who appear to need help with visual or aural distractions. These modifications are unlike formal accommodations in that they do not require documentation. Modifications and learning tools are intended to help a student perform at his/her best.
Administer the Form 80 Reading and Listening Tests to ESOL students; Form 80 Reading and ECS Form 130 Math to ABE students. Score all appraisal tests by hand, and use the students’ scores and the Suggested Next Test charts for Form 80 and Form 130 appraisals to determine the appropriate pre-tests. Record the information on the appropriate ESOL/CASAS Appraisal Form or the ABE intake information form.
CASAS scores and state level correlation charts are used by the proctor and/or instructor along with writing sample to determine level placement.
For ESOL students complete the “ESOL CASAS Appraisal Form” stapled to the inside back cover of the student folder. For ABE students, complete the ABE CASAS Appraisal Form [link to N drive or other].
Registration process for I-BEST students typically includes working with Workforce Education coordinators to secure funding for the I-BEST courses prior to registering. Actual student registration occurs in the Basic Skills Office, RLC 125. The student’s folder will be held until the student has funding and is ready to register.
Click here for the recommended levels for the I-BEST courses.
Click here for a copy of The Appraisal Process Flow Chart