ACT to offer assistance to ELL students on test

The ACT will now accommodate English language learners on the college readiness test.

Starting in the fall of 2017, the nonprofit will offer supports to English language learners to ensure that their tests accurately reflect their abilities.

For the first time, students will receive additional time on their tests, test instructions in their language, a separate testing room and have access to a bilingual glossary. Students are required to apply for the additional assistance from their school counselor.

The ACT used input from educational experts and civil rights advocates to determine how to offer support to English language learners without giving them an unfair advantage.

“Today’s universities are serving the most diverse populations in the history of U.S. higher education,” California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White said in a news release. “It is imperative that we give all students opportunities to demonstrate their true potential, in order to give all students access to the benefits of a university education.”

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act definition, the ACT defines an English language learner as a student who was not born in the U.S. and whose first language is another language other than English, according to the organization.