What are equitable assessment accommodations for Emergent Bilinguals (ELLs)?

• A. Use only English with no supports.
• B. Use clear language, visuals, extended time if needed, bilingual glossaries, and options for demonstration of learning.
• C. Exclude from assessment.
• D. Require responses in students' native language only.

Answer: (B)

Providing equitable assessment accommodations means designing assessments so language differences don’t block students from showing what they know. Using clear language and visuals helps students grasp what is being asked and what content is being tested. Extending time when needed gives students space to think, process, and respond without being penalized for slower language development. Bilingual glossaries support understanding of key terms, helping students access academic vocabulary without guessing or losing track of meaning. Offering options for demonstration of learning—such as oral explanations, projects, drawings, or other nonwritten formats—allows students to reveal their understanding in ways that align with their strengths. Together, these practices create an accessible, fair way to measure knowledge rather than just language ability. In contrast, forcing English-only with no supports, excluding students from assessment, or requiring responses solely in the student’s native language can misrepresent what they know and can do.