Well, actually, we are bringing them to you, in the form of new STAMP test languages, developed by our research partner, CASLS, the Center for Applied Second Language Studies, at the University of Oregon. Italian is expected to be ready by Spring, 2007, with Korean and Russian following in 2008 and Arabic in 2009. You told us what you wanted, and we went to work. Keep letting us know about your wants and needs, as we really take them into consideration. There are more new languages to come, so stay tuned.

Whether you use the STAMP test in your middle or high school, or you have heard about it and wish you could use it in your elementary program, your wait is almost over. Many of you asked us about it, and now STAMP for elementary programs is coming, courtesy of our research partner, CASLS (see above). During the pilot phase, STAMP for Elementary students is being called NOELLA (National Online Early Language Learning Assessment). After piloting is complete, STAMP for Elementary will be ready for the following STAMP languages: Spanish, French, Japanese and Chinese (grant funding for German has not yet materialized). For more information visit the NOELLA pilot Website by clicking on the link below:

You may not know that LLS has a large library of supporting information and documentation for teachers and coordinators using STAMP. Please visit the STAMP page of our Website, www.onlinells.com, and peek at the Benchmarks and Text Analysis guides, as well as the guide to Interpreting the Presentational Rubrics, and the newly updated, and very informative, STAMP FAQs. There is more there, so please browse around.

Our goal is for STAMP to provide the independent, reliable data that teachers and coordinators need to improve their programs and student progress, and that it facilitate professional development. STAMP test scores have always been easy to access, but not easy to segment by years of study, or grade level. You told us, and we listened. Starting this school year, teachers will be required to enter this information about their classes in order to set up their tests. Obtaining this information from teachers will enable us to give you what you have been asking for: Average scores, broken down by years of study and/or grade level. We are pleased to be able to respond to your requests, and look forward to your continued feedback.

Aside from delivering, scoring and reporting the STAMP test, LLS also designs and develops customized tests specifically to meet client specifications. For example, the Oregon Department of Education has hired LLS to design, develop and deliver the Web-based English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) that is used to test all K-12 English Language Learners in the state.

Oregon will use the results of ELPA to report results to the US Department of Education, as required under the No Child Left Behind Act. ELPA tests reading, writing, listening and speaking, entirely over the Web, and it is the ONLY Web-based ELP test we know of that is used to meet federal reporting requirements in the United States.

Whereas other states test with paper and pencil, and face to face interviews, with tests that are often 2-3 hours long, the ELPA takes just one hour to assess all four skills, due to the innovative, Web-based test design. ELPA also eliminates the need for interviews, since the oral section is done on the computer, with students wearing headsets and mics.

Imagine saying goodbye to the headaches of shipping, receiving, securely storing, repackaging and re-shipping tests, with the inevitable lost documents. The Web-based ELPA makes these a thing of the past. If you would like to talk to LLS about piloting your state’s ELP test online in your district, let us know. Do you have other customized Web-based assessment needs? We’d be happy to discuss them with you.