English learners' progress beyond the significant risk level differed by test language: 21 percent stayed above threshold in English and 19 percent improved to it, versus 11 percent improving in Spanish¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Among English learners taking assessments in English and Spanish, about 21 percent of students above the significant risk threshold in English at beginning of year were still there at end of year and another 19 percent improved to that level, while in Spanish fewer students (11%) improved beyond the significant risk level. → Lemke 2025

Evidence¶

Lemke 2025¶

Lemke, M., Faulkner-Bond, M., LeBeau, B., Soo Ping Chow, A., & Quesen, S. (2025). Early literacy performance in Massachusetts: Results of ongoing analysis of literacy screening assessments (2023/24 data). WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED677571

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Analysis of English learners taking Star screening assessments in both English and Spanish, comparing through-year patterns by language. The report prints that in Spanish "fewer students (11%) improved beyond the significant risk level"; no effect size is printed.

"In English, about 21 percent of students who performed above the significant risk threshold at the beginning of the year were still there by the end of the year, and another 19 percent improved to that level. In Spanish, fewer students (11%) improved beyond the significant risk level."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• English-Learner Status — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• English-only screening is the norm for English learners in Massachusetts: 90 percent were assessed only in English across all three screening periods in 2023/24 — related
• Early screening benchmark status predicts later performance: most beginning-of-year at-risk students stay at risk, and meeting benchmarks by end of grade 1 is associated with much higher grade 3 MCAS odds — a broader claim this one bears on
• Screening language practices are related to English language education program type: SEI students were mostly screened in English while DLBE students were more often screened in Spanish or alternately — related
• The percentage of students who stay at risk across time periods increases across grade levels K–3 — related