Abstract:
Language Assessment Battery (LAB) is an English language proficiency test for students K-12 which is based on the curriculum of the New York City School System. It is primarily used to identify and place students, but can also be used to monitor progress and evaluate programs. The Spanish-language version of the test has its own norms and each language version is available in two forms. There are four levels of the test: Level I is for students in K-2; Level II is for 3-5; Level III is for 6-8; and Level IV is for 9-12. There are several sections: Speaking, which requires an oral response to an oral or pictorial stimulus; Listening, which requires choosing the correct response to an oral or pictorial stimulus; Reading, which uses a cloze format; and, Writing, which measures language usage, also through the use of a cloze format. Except for the Speaking test, all sections can be administered in groups. Short forms of the test are available: the K-2 Short LAB takes about 8 minutes to administer and the 3-12 Short LAB takes about 10 minutes. LAB norms were based on a population including English proficient, Limited English Proficient , and Spanish proficient students. Construct validity was established via Rasch analysis of responses of LEP vs. English proficient students. Concurrent validity with the Full LAB ranges from .93 to .99 across grade levels.