In November of 2012 and February of 2013, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) held two workshops to conduct the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) performance standards verification using the bookmark procedure (Cizek & Bunch, 2007; Kane, 1994; Mitzel, Lewis, Patz, & Green, 2001). To set the bookmarks, ODE recruited a diverse set of participants from across the state.
Participants brought expertise in English Language instruction and represented the range of stakeholder characteristics. They were split into grade-level groups and table teams within those groups. They then participated in six rounds of bookmarking and set four achievement standards defining five Proficiency Levels (Beginning, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Early Advanced, and Advanced) for grades kindergarten (K) through high school. The final recommendations from the panel are described in this report.
