Supporting Equitable Assessment for Multilingual Learners of English

Reviews / Votes

In this exceptional book, Maksimchuk and Penton Herrera unapologetically focus on the importance of equitable assessments for multilingual learners of English (MLEs). What makes this book unique is that it develops our assessment literacy while providing us with theoretical understandings, as well as a multidimensional framework that considers the complex interdependent dimensions of multilingual student learning and evaluation. The single focus of the book on equity, equality, justice, equanimity, and empowerment for MLE assessment is then amplified as it generates many different possibilities of assessment design and balanced actions by educators.

~ Ofelia Garcia

The Graduate Center, City University of New York

The authors capture what it truly means to understand and provide equitable assessments for multilingual learners of English (MLEs). The solid research base provided, along with the clear explanations, makes this a book that should be required for all assessment courses. Educators interested in learning more about assessment, including the rationale behind assessments, will appreciate the opportunity to not only identify and review appropriate, equitable assessments but also to design equitable assessments tailored for MLEs. This book is a gem!

~Gilda Martinez-Alba

Towson University

This book brings a fresh perspective to the assessment of multilingual learners of English in content classrooms, with keen attention to affective, social-moral, and technical dimensions of assessment design. The authors' philosophy is that assessment practices should be equitable, inclusive, and empowering. As a result, this text guides teachers to frame "assessments as stepping stones rather than obstacles." By offering choice in assessment formats, creating supportive and respectful classroom environments, and crafting targeted feedback, teachers can maximize students' abilities, linguistic backgrounds, and cultural knowledge, and enable them to demonstrate their content knowledge and skills more fully.

~ Deborah J. Short

Academic Language Research & Training, LLC