English language proficiency.
English language proficiency.
(1) Each State must, in its State plan under section 1111 of the Act -
(i) Identify its ambitious State-designed long-term goals and measurements of interim progress for increases in the percentage of all English learners in the State making annual progress toward attaining English language proficiency, as measured by the English language proficiency assessment required in section 1111(b)(2)(G) of the Act; and
(ii) Describe how it established those goals and measurements of interim progress.
(2) Each State must describe in its State plan under section 1111 of the Act a uniform procedure, applied to all English learners in the State in a consistent manner, to establish research-based student-level targets on which the goals and measurements of interim progress under paragraph (c)(1) of this section are based. The State-developed uniform procedure must -
(i) Take into consideration, at the time of a student's identification as an English learner, the student's English language proficiency level, and may take into consideration, at a State's discretion, one or more of the following student characteristics:
(A) Time in language instruction educational programs.
(B) Grade level.
(C) Age.
(D) Native language proficiency level.
(E) Limited or interrupted formal education, if any;
(ii) Based on the selected student characteristics under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, determine the applicable timeline, up to a State-determined maximum number of years, for English learners sharing particular characteristics under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section to attain English language proficiency after a student's identification as an English learner; and
(iii) Establish student-level targets, based on the applicable timelines under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, that set the expectation for all English learners to make annual progress toward attaining English language proficiency within the applicable timelines for such students.
(3) The description under paragraph (c)(2) of this section must include a rationale for how the State determined the overall maximum number of years for English learners to attain English language proficiency in its uniform procedure for setting research-based student-level targets, and the applicable timelines over which English learners sharing particular characteristics under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section would be expected to attain English language proficiency within such State-determined maximum number of years.
(4) An English learner who does not attain English language proficiency within the timeline under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section must not be exited from English learner services or status prior to attaining English language proficiency.