EAL Assessment Info for Schools - GSSD Blogs - Good Spirit School ...

New Ministry of Education Requirements for EAL Assessment
The Common Framework of Reference for the Assessment of EAL Students in Saskatchewan
As part of the Ministry’s desire to streamline the assessment process and provide
consistency throughout all school divisions in Saskatchewan, a new process for the assessment
of EAL students has been implemented. This process is called the Common Framework of
Reference (CFR). The assessment of EAL students, using this Common Framework of Reference,
will be linked to funding. CFR assessment levels, which must be reported no later than
September 30, 2012, will affect funding for the 2013‐2014 budget year.
The following data must be entered in the Student Data System no later than
September 30, 2012:
Name of Student
Saskatchewan Student Number
Date of Student’s arrival in Canada
Student’s former location
Assessment level according to the Common Framework of Reference
All EAL students who are assessed below the “proficient user” designation of
English language proficiency in the Common Framework of Reference will be
included in Supports for Learning Funding.
Students entered into the system who are first‐time entrants into a Canadian
school, and have entered Canada through the Saskatchewan immigration process
(this information is found on their immigration documents) will be eligible for
additional funding called Assessment Funding. The number of student
newcomers assessed in 2011‐2012 will determine EAL Assessment Funding for
2012‐2013.
‣ Only EAL student newcomers in grades 1‐12 will be assessed for funding
purposes.
Who will do the assessments?
In the initial stages of the implementation of the Common Framework of Reference, the EAL
Co‐ordinator will work through the assessment with one or more classroom teachers who
teach each EAL student. An English language proficiency level will be assigned based on the

speaking, listening, reading and writing levels of the student, using the Common Framework of
Reference. The assessment consists of global descriptors stating what the student can do in
each skill area at each level.
The assessment should take no more than 10‐15 minutes for each EAL student.
The EAL Co‐ordinator will contact the seventeen schools in the division who have reported
EAL students in 2011‐2012 to arrange for a time to meet with teachers to apply the
assessment using the Common Framework of Reference.
The CFR assessments must be completed for all EAL students prior to June 29, 2012, and the
information must be entered into the School Data System no later than September 30, 2012.
Your co‐operation with the implementation of this new requirement will be greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Carol McCullough
EAL Teacher/Co‐ordinator
Good Spirit School Division
cmccullough@mail.gssd.ca