ESOL Program
The testing criteria and guidelines for the ESOL Program are as follows:
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
MDC administers the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) - Life and Work (reading and listening forms) for ESOL courses EDU 057, EDU 059, and EDU 060. Initial placement and advancement in these courses are based only on the Reading scores (effective July 1, 2012).
Listening can be used for practice and to inform instruction only (effective July 1, 2012).
Placement and level completion are determined when the student’s scale score is at the highest end of an Educational Functioning Level (EFL).
High Advanced ESOL (EDU 064) does not have a post-test. Exit is determined by completion of competencies and passing the instructor prepared exit exam.
Students transitioning from EDU 058 and EDU 064 to other programs are tested following the procedures of their new selected program.
The Basic English Skills Test (BEST Plus) is used for pre and post-testing off-campus EL Civics Grant ESOL students.
CASAS and BEST Plus pre-test scores are valid for a period of one year.
Eligible students who do not meet the following minimum placement criteria will be referred to other programs offered by the College [Refugee/Entrant Vocational Education Services Training (REVEST), non-credit Intensive English, etc.] or to programs offered by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
| * | CASAS Placement is based on the Reading score for EDU 057, EDU 059, and EDU 060. |
| ** | Students must be literate in their native language. |
| *** | EDU 061, EDU 062 and EDU 058 are used only for off-campus El Civics students using BEST Plust to pre-test and post-test. |
English Literacy for Career and Technical Education (ELCATE)
MDC administers the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) - Life and Work (reading and listening forms) for ELCATE courses EDU 068, EDU 069, and EDU 070. Initial placement and advancement in these courses are based only on the Reading scores (effective July 1, 2012).
Listening can be used for practice and to inform instruction only (effective July 1, 2012).
Placement and level completion are determined when the student’s scale score is at the highest end of an Educational Functioning Level (EFL).
An appropriate form of the CASAS is used for post-testing students transitioning to their next level of courses and for completion of Advanced ELCATE (EDU 070).
High Advanced ESOL (EDU 064) does not have a post-test. Exit is determined by completion of competencies and passing the instructor prepared exit exam.
Students transitioning from EDU 070 to other programs are tested following the procedures of their new selected program.
CASAS scores are valid for a period of one year.
Eligible students who do not meet the following minimum placement criteria will be referred to other programs offered by the College [Refugee/Entrant Vocational Education Services Training (REVEST), non-credit Intensive English, etc.] or to programs offered by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
| * | Students who test between 200 and 235 on the CASAS will be placed in the appropriate level of ELCATE. If student reaches 235 or more in Reading, the student transitions to High Advanced ESOL. |
| ** | Placement and promotion are based on CASAS Life and Work Reading scores. |