AZELLA State Assessment

  • General Information

    The Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA) is a standards-based assessment that meets both state and federal requirements to measure students’ English language proficiency. AZELLA is used for both placement and reassessment purposes. Students who have been identified as second language learners on the Home Language Survey take the AZELLA placement test, and the students’ proficiency scores determine appropriate placement for instruction. Students who have been placed into an English language learner program will also take the AZELLA reassessment once per year until they achieve proficiency. Students who have scored proficient on the AZELLA test are then monitored for two years to help ensure success after their move into a mainstream classroom.

    Students are given a particular stage of the test according to their grade level. 

    • Kindergarten
    • 1st Grade
    • 2nd-3rd Grade
    • 4th-5th Grade
    • 6th-8th Grade
    • 9th-12th Grade

    New AZELLA Cut Scores

    New AZELLA cut scores, performance levels, and descriptors were set and were approved by Superintendent Horne. These new performance levels represent what is expected and should be demonstrated by ELs AND no comparison can be made to the previous administrations or versions of AZELLA.

    AZELLA descriptions

    Testing Dates

    • Placement Testing : July 17, 2024 - May 9, 2025
    • Reassessment Testing: January 27, 2025 - March 14, 2025

    AZELLA Resources

    Questions? Please contact:

    • For information regarding testing requirements or procedures, please contact the CUSD Assessment Team at Assessment@cusd80.com 
    • For information regarding EL Program placement or services, please contact the Amy Spilde (spilde.amy@cusd80.com) in Federal Programs

AZELLA Staff Resources

  • Additionally, CUSD provides staff resources, which can be accessed by clicking on the link below (must be logged into the CUSD website).

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