FAQ: Can I translate instructions and accept responses in either language when assessing a student's English skills?
Answer:
Circle Progress Monitoring (CPM), Circle Kindergarten Progress Monitoring (KPM), TPRI, and Tejas LEE are designed to be administered in either English or Spanish, depending on the language selected for the assessment. Each tool must be delivered in the language indicated by the measure to ensure fidelity and validity.
These assessments are not validated for bilingual responses. Cut points are generated based on the assumption that the student responds in the same language as the assessment. Mixing languages—such as translating instructions or accepting responses in both languages—may compromise the reliability of the results and invalidate the data.
That said, CPM and KPM allow flexibility in assessing individual sub-measures in the alternate language. For example, Rapid Vocabulary can be administered in both English and Spanish for any child. If you choose to do this, we recommend waiting a few days between administrations to reduce overexposure to the same items. This approach may help identify items the child understands but may only need the translated label in the other language.
To support students in responding in the correct language, you may use clear verbal prompts such as:
“I want you to name these pictures in English.”
“Quiero que nombres estos dibujos en español.”
If the child responds in the opposite language, gently redirect with:
“In English, please.”
“En español, por favor.”
We do not recommend translating the assessment prompts or instructions, as doing so may compromise the integrity of the tool. Always administer the assessment in the language it was designed for.
Please consult with your school or district administrators regarding any accommodations, as these decisions are made at the local level.