AZELLA General FAQs

How many AZELLA test administrations are there in one school year?

There are 2 separate AZELLA test administrations during one school year.

The AZELLA Placement Test is administered from the start of the school year through mid-May of the same school year as needed. Not all students with an EL need require an AZELLA Placement Test. Students may be administered the Placement Test during the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test, when the Placement Test is required.

The annual Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test is administered during a scheduled 7-week test window in late January through mid-March. All students with an EL need are required to participate in this test administration.

Does ADE provide AZELLA test administration training?

Yes, ADE, in partnership with Pearson, provides extensive online training and qualifications for the administration of the AZELLA Placement Test and the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test. 

The online trainings and qualifications include:

• * Annual training modules through the Arizona Learning Management System (AzLMS)
• * Placement Test training modules through the AzLMS
• * Additional Placement Test trainings and qualifications through Understand Scoring for Kindergarten through Grade 3
• * Spring Reassessment Test training modules through the AzLMS

Please review the section titled, AZELLA Trainings and Qualifications, on this AZELLA DTC web page.

What do I need to know about student privacy and FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. This law applies to all schools that receive U.S. Department of Education funds under applicable programs, including the states' English Language Proficiency assessments such as AZELLA.

AZELLA materials may contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and sensitive information about a student’s educational background and historical performance. As such, we are all responsible for protecting and securing AZELLA materials to prevent the accidental disclosure of the information they contain.

Do not include students' names and/or date of births in the body of emails. Use their State Student Identification (SSID) number. When images are included in the body of emails, all student identifiable information except for the SSID number must be extracted or blacked-out before adding the image to the email.

What are the Overall Proficiency Levels of the AZELLA?

There are 4 AZELLA Overall Proficiency Levels (OPL):

• Pre-Emergent/Emergent (eligible for EL program services)
• Basic (eligible for EL program services)
• Intermediate (eligible for EL program services)
• Proficient (not eligible for EL program services)

An EL student must achieve an OPL of Proficient on the AZELLA to be exited from EL program services.

When will the 2024 State Reclassification Rates be available?

September - October 2024

The 2024 State EL Reclassification Rate will be published by the Accountability Division after the A-F Letter Grades have been completed in September 2024.

Please visit the Accountability web page in September for this information.  https://www.azed.gov/accountability-research

Can parents decline the administration of the AZELLA for their student who attends an Arizona public school?

No. Arizona public school students who are eligible for the AZELLA do not require parent permission for testing because the student attends a public school. Public schools must be in compliance with State and Federal testing requirements, including the AZELLA; therefore, parent permission is not required to test eligible students. EL students must be tested annually until they reach an Overall Proficiency Level of Proficient on the AZELLA or Alt ELPA.

Parents may decline EL program services. Students who have been parent withdrawn from receiving EL program services are still required to be administered the AZELLA annually until they reach an Overall Proficiency Level of Proficient.