When should teachers use the provincial achievement levels to evaluate ESL or ESD students?
The provincial achievement levels are cognitively rooted whereas the ESL stages of language proficiency are focused on second language acquisition. Generally, it is not until ESL students have reached Stage 3 that they have the linguistic proficiency necessary to begin to demonstrate their competency in all subject areas. At stages 3 and 4 teachers can begin, with some confidence, to apply the provincial achievement levels and provide a grade or percentage based on grade level expectations. Teachers may still want to indicate in the comment box any accommodations that the student is receiving.
