Paris Independent School District

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires states to assess all students in federally mandated grades and subjects. The state of Texas uses linguistically accommodated testing (LAT) which is a special administration of TAKS for LEP-exempt recent immigrants. LAT administrations are provided in designated grades and subjects. Linguistic accommodations are made in order to assist students in overcoming language barriers and to provide a meaningful assessment of academic knowledge and skills.

LAT administrations are available in the following federally required subject areas and grades:

• mathematics at grades 3-8 and 10
• reading at grades 3-8 and ELA at grade 10
• science at grades 5, 8, and 10

LAT Eligibility

Students are eligible for LAT administrations in mathematics and science if they:

• are determined to be LEP-exempt in accordance with Texas policy;
• are in grades 3-8 or 10 for LAT mathematics administrations; and
• are in grades 5, 8, or 10 for LAT science administrations.

Students are eligible for LAT administrations in reading or ELA if they

• are determined to be LEP-exempt in accordance with Texas policy;
• are in grades 3-8 or 10; and
• are beyond their first year of enrollment in U.S. schools.

For reading/ELA, eligible immigrant ELLs in their first school year of enrollment in the U.S. do not take a LAT administration. They take the TELPAS reading assessment to meet federal testing requirements.

Eligible immigrant ELL's receiving special education services:  LAT administrations of TAKS, inlcuding TAKS (Accommodated), and TAKS-M are available for reasons associated with limited English proficiency for eligible immigrant ELLs receiving special education services. When taking a LAT administration of TAKS, TAKS (Accommodated), or TAKS-M, these students are able to receive accommodations that address both their special education needs and needs as immigrant English language learners.