Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System

TEA designed the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) to assess the progress that limited English proficient (LEP) students make in learning the English language. What is TELPAS? It’s an assessment program for English language learners (ELLs).

To show the integral relationship between TELPAS and the Texas English Language Proficiency

Standards (ELPS). TELPAS assesses the English language proficiency of K–12 ELLs in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. English language proficiency assessments in grades K–

12 are federally required to evaluate the progress that ELLs make in becoming proficient in the use of academic English. English language proficiency in speaking

TELPAS assesses students in alignment with the Texas English Language Proficiency

Standards (ELPS), which are part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Student performance is reported in terms of the four English language proficiency levels described in the

ELPS: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high. TELPAS assesses English language proficiency in direct alignment with the ELPS. It measures the ELPS student expectations in accordance with the four levels of English language proficiency defined in the PLDs. TELPAS is designed to directly support the state’s educational goals for meeting the language and content needs of ELLs. (www.TEA.gov) As an educator in Texas, it is important to understand the vital role that you will play in the lives of English learning students. TELPAS assesses the ELPS, which districts are required to implement as an integral part of each foundation and enrichment subject of the Texas Essential

Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state required curriculum. It is important to know what

The proficiency level descriptors, which describe the English that

ELLs can understand and use at each proficiency level, guide teachers in providing appropriate linguistic supports and accommodations. The ELPS and TELPAS are designed to work together to enable ELLs to make steady progress in learning the English that is necessary for meaningful engagement in grade-appropriate content area instruction. The second language acquisition knowledge and skills in the ELPS are the means for helping ELLs learn English simultaneously with academic subject matter. Together, the ELPS and TELPAS provide formative and summative assessment opportunities that support teaching and learning. Learning a second language is different from learning a first language. Individuals may begin learning a second language at any age and in a variety of different contexts (social, school, work).

Second languages are learned along a continuum that can be divided into stages called language proficiency levels. The ELPS identify four language proficiency levels (beginning,