Proficiency Outcomes of English Leaners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Before, During, and After the Pandemic

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Language Assessment for Students with Disabilities

Abstract

This study examines the English language proficiency outcomes of students who have the most significant cognitive disabilities and were identified as English learners (ELs) before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Leveraging large-scale, longitudinal student-level data from WIDA Consortium member states in academic years 2017-2023, we examine trends in English language proficiency as measured by WIDA’s Alternate ACCESS for ELLs “high-stakes” assessment. We identify very low growth in English language proficiency for ELs with SCDs on average. In contrast to large and growing disparities reported for Hispanic ELs taking the general ACCESS assessment, we identify a small but positive difference in the average outcomes of ELs with SCDs, with Hispanic ELs slightly outperforming non-Hispanic ELs taking Alternate ACCESS.

Authors

• Glenn A. Poole, WIDA

• Narék Sahakyan, WIDA