Language-appropriate supports in assessments?

• A. Providing translations, language accommodations, and bilingual or ESL appropriate assessments.
• B. Excluding any language supports to keep testing conditions uniform.
• C. Relying solely on nonverbal measures.
• D. Prohibiting translation to avoid bias.

Answer: (A)

Providing language-appropriate supports helps ensure assessments measure what students truly know, not how well they navigate language. This includes translations, language accommodations, and assessments designed for bilingual or ESL learners. When used thoughtfully, these supports give students access to the content while preserving the task’s demands, so results reflect their actual knowledge and skills.

Excluding language supports or prohibiting translation creates unnecessary barriers for students who are language learners, leading to results that don’t accurately reflect their understanding. Relying solely on nonverbal measures overlooks the language aspects present in much of the content and can miss important knowledge and abilities.