AZELLA - Placement Test FAQs

When is the AZELLA Placement Test administration window?

The AZELLA Placement Test window begins on the the district's or charter's first instructional day of the school year. However, ADE has approved a 2-calendar week jump start prior to the first day of school to begin Placement testing.

Before any AZELLA testing can begin, the following must be completed:

• * The AZELLA District Test Coordinator (DTC), the AZELLA School Test Coordinator (STC), and the AZELLA Test Administrators (TA) must have completed the required Annual and Placement Test trainings and certifications before any AZELLA testing can begin.

The AZELLA Placement Test window closes in mid-May of the current school year.

Which students are required, eligible, and not eligible for the AZELLA Placement Test?

Students who are required to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test include:

• * Students who are new to Arizona public schools, their Home Language Survey (HLS) responses include a language other than English and American Sign Language (ASL) on any of the 3 responses, and the student does not have an AZELLA testing history or EL Program Transactions as shown on the EL70 Report are required to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test.
   
• * Students who have a red font quick alert message on their EL70 Report indicating that a new Placement Test is needed are required to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test.
   
• * Students whose most current AZELLA record is "Undetermined" are required to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test.
   
• * Students who are associated with EL Group 8 on the EL73 Report are required to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test.
   

Students who are eligible to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test include:

• * Students who qualify for the Moving from Mainstream to English Placement Test referral form are eligible to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test.
   
• * Students who qualify for the Moving from EL Program Services to Mainstream - Start of School Year - Placement Test Referral form are eligible to be administered the AZELLA Placement Test.
   

Students who are NOT eligible for any AZELLA testing include:

• * Foreign Exchange students who are not receiving state funds.
   
• * Students who have a blue font quick alert message on their EL70 Report. (If AZELLA testing is requested, the Moving from Mainstream to English Placement Test referral form is required.)
   
• * Students whose most current AZELLA record has an Overall Proficiency Level of Proficient.

What Placement Test materials are required?

The Kindergarten Placement Student and Test Administrator Test Book are shared between the TA and the student, KPT Response Sheets, and specific KPT manipulatives are used for the KPT administration.

Grade 1 is a paper-pencil and TestNav administration. Students have their own paper test book. There is a Test Administration Directions (TAD) manual, an audio CD or electronic audio files, and a Unit 5 (Speaking) demo video file that is downloaded from PearsonAccess Next (PAN).  Test Administrators must use an electronic testing device for the administration of the Unit 5 (Speaking) test with an external wired microphone for the student to record responses. When the sound is not adequate for the student to hear the items, external speakers may be needed. The Placement Test Grade 1 Unit 5 test is administered one-on-one in a quiet environment. The Unit 5 Speaking Test demonstration video must be played for the Grade 1 students prior to administering the Unit 5 test.

Grades 2-3 is a hybrid administration which means they will complete 4 of the 5 test Units online, and there is one paper test book for Unit 4 only. There is also an audio CD or electronic audio file that is used for Unit 4, and the Grades 2-3 Placement Test TAD.

Grades 4-5 is an online test only. Students do not have paper test materials. The Grades 4-12 TAD is only available electronically to download from PAN.

Grades 6-8 is an online test only. Students do not have paper test materials. The Grades 4-12 TAD is only available electronically to download from PAN.

Grades 9-12 is an online test only. Students do not have paper test materials. The Grades 4-12 TAD is only available electronically to download from PAN.

DTCs must inventory the materials on hand at the district and schools, and then the DTC may place an additional order for more materials through PearsonAccess Next (PAN) if more are needed.

What accommodated versions of the AZELLA Placement Test are available for students who qualify for an accommodated version?

All accommodated forms of the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test must be approved annually by submitting the AZELLA Additional Accommodations Request Form by August 31, 2023. 

At this time, the accommodated versions of the AZELLA Placement Test are:

• Large Print
• Special Paper Version (Grade 2-12)
• ASL (ASL videos for directions and accessibility elements)

A Braille version and the Alt ELPA are not currently available for the AZELLA Placement Test.

Is the AZELLA Placement Test administered during the Spring Reassessment Test window?

Yes. The AZELLA Placement Test is administered concurrently with the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test for students who require the administration of the Placement Test.

Students who are administered an AZELLA Placement Test after January 1 of the current school year (and during the Spring Reassessment Test window) do not need to be administered the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test.