Differential nonlinear relations of language proficiencies to reading and math achievement in Spanish or English.

Abstract

We examined whether English language proficiency (ELP) related to interim reading and math performance differently when academic assessments were administered to students in either English or Spanish. We also tested these effects with Spanish language proficiency (SLP) as well as jointly with ELP and SLP. Students from a midwestern suburban school district in Grades 2-8 were included (N = 2,327); 763 of these students in Grades 4-8 had SLP and ELP scores. Differences between English and Spanish math scores varied minimally across the majority of the ELP distribution. English-Spanish differences in reading across ELP scores were more pronounced. Language differences in math and reading scores as a function of only SLP were less clear, and reading was also more sensitive to joint changes in ELP and SLP compared to math. We discuss practical implications and limitations for assessment within multitiered systems of support as well as future directions for research. Impact and ImplicationsSpanish-speaking students with lower English language proficiency (ELP) may benefit more from taking reading assessments in Spanish than in English, yet minimal differences between English and Spanish math performance emerged across ELP levels (except at very low ELP in some cases). A variety of different combinations of ELP and Spanish language proficiency (SLP) levels predicted similar math and reading scores. However, reading scores were more sensitive to differences in both SLP and ELP than math, suggesting that the role of first and second languages is less clear in aggregate math performance than in reading.

Predictive Strength of Math Screening Across English Language Proficiency Scores in Third to Eighth Grade

“…Moreover, there currently no research regarding how this may differ across languages of assessment, though recent work has focused specifically on Spanish reading screening accuracy as well as the predictive validity of dynamic math assessment (Cho et al, 2020). Other studies have demonstrated the impacts of math test translation (Robinson, 2010), differences in screening performance by language across ELP (Hall & Swanlund, 2023), and differential item functioning in math across EL or non-EL status (Buono & Jiang, 2021). Yet, there remains a substantial gap regarding heterogeneity in math screener predictive strength across ELP.…”