The English Language Proficiency Assessment/Reassessment (ELPA/R) is normally administered during the high school exam period in January. This year, at the request of the school districts, it has been delayed and will be administered between April 19 and May 5.

BLMS students are scheduled to write the (ELPA/R) on April 29th & 30th. In case of unforeseen circumstances May 3rd & 4th will be our alternate days for students to write.

The ELPA/R is an assessment of student reading comprehension skills. It is compulsory for all Grade 9 students and is a graduation requirement, unless an exemption is granted. Students who are unsuccessful in Grade 9 may participate again in Grade 11 and Grade 12, if necessary.

This year will be the first time the ELPA/R will be delivered online. In preparation, a short practice test will be available beginning on April 6. Students will be able to access this from school or home as often as they wish. This will provide the opportunity for students to become familiar with the assessment format and to explore the available accommodations.

Please ensure that students:

· check their devices prior to April 6 to be certain they meet the technical requirements of the online platform

· alert the school if they do not have access to a suitable device so that alterative measures may be taken

· bring their devices to school on the day of the assessment fully charged and with a charger

· explore the practice test in preparation for the assessment

This assessment may not be completed on a smartphone.

The ELPA must be written while students are at school.

For this year only, Grade 9 students who are unable to come to the school during the administration period will participate in the assessment in Grade 10. Grade 12 students who need to rewrite the assessment to graduate and are unable to come to the school during the administration period must consult with their school’s Guidance teachers.

Grade 12 students “are unable to come to the school during the administration period” is limited to students who have:

‐ vulnerabilities that mean they have not been able to attend school this year

‐ been instructed to self-isolate beyond the weeks of the assessment

‐ classes or schools that are in lock-down

For information about available accommodations and conditions for exemption, please consult the Protocols for Accommodations and Exemptions Guideline.