Culturally Competent Assessment of English Language Learners

Culturally competent assessment is more than the adequacy of tests to measure the abilities of culturally and linguistically diverse student populations. It is a comprehensive process involving the implementation of various strategies to identify and remedy educational conditions that systematically disadvantage particular student groups. School psychologists develop skills in culturally competent assessment by becoming familiar with background knowledge of their students' community, understanding the group's unique abilities, and using this information in the collection and interpretation of assessment data.

Assessment of English Language Learner (ELL) students can be challenging. Due to their limited English proficiency, ELL students should be assessed cautiously when using traditional assessments created for their English speaking peers. Many assessment instruments rely heavily on language; as a result, the validity of