--- title: Moving Toward More Equitable Science Assessments for English Learners description: Identifying the linguistic features of 5th grade MCAS science test items that interfere with English Learners' ability to demonstrate science knowledge. image: https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/Tracy%20Noble%20TERC%20Presentation.jpg --- × Search [![TERC](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TERC_April2020/images/terc_logo.png)](https://www.terc.edu/) - Search - [Get Updates](https://www.terc.edu/news-events/get-updates/) - [Blog](https://blog.terc.edu/) - [Contact Us](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/contact-us/) MENU - [About TERC](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/) - [Mission](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/mission/) - [History](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/history/) - [FAQs](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/faqs/) - [Funders & Partners](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/funders-partners/) - [People](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/staff/) - [Contact Us](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/contact-us/) - [Policies](https://www.terc.edu/about-terc/policies/) - [Projects & Research](https://www.terc.edu/projects-research/) - [Our Services](https://www.terc.edu/our-services/) - [Professional Development](https://www.terc.edu/our-services/professional-development/) - [Research Evaluation](https://www.terc.edu/projects/seec/) - [Publications](https://www.terc.edu/publications/) - [Products & Materials](https://www.terc.edu/products-materials/) - [Work With Us](https://www.terc.edu/work-with-us/) - [Partner With Us](https://www.terc.edu/work-with-us/partner-with-us/) - [Careers](https://www.terc.edu/work-with-us/careers/) - [TERC Scholars Program](https://www.terc.edu/work-with-us/terc-scholars-intership-program/) - [The STEAMworks Room](https://www.terc.edu/work-with-us/the-steamworks-room/) - [Donate](https://www.terc.edu/work-with-us/donate/) - [News & Events](https://www.terc.edu/news-events/) - [Hands On! 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Magazine](https://www.terc.edu/news-events/hands-on-magazine/) - [Blog](https://blog.terc.edu) - [Get Updates](https://www.terc.edu/news-events/get-updates/) # TERC Blog ## Moving Toward More Equitable Science Assessments for English Learners ### TERC Presenter Series With the cancellation of many conferences this year and reduced audiences for those who did present, the TERC's Communications team thought it would be nice for staff to still be able to disseminate their presentations. As a response, we developed the TERC Presenter Series. Over a few months we set up Zoom presentations for projects to share their work and for those of us inside and outside of TERC learn more about the ongoing research. The first presentation in our series was **[Tracy Noble's](https://www.terc.edu/profiles/tracy-noble/)** **Moving Toward More Equitable Science Assessments for English Learners**. Tracy's presentation covered nine years of her work and encompasses two different projects. It was originally given Thursday, April 30, 2020.    > **Moving Toward More Equitable Science Assessments for English Learners ** > > A presentation by Tracy Noble, of TERC, that summarizes 9 years of work on two projects focused on identifying the linguistic features of 5th grade MCAS science test items that interfere with English Learners' ability to demonstrate their science knowledge when answering these test items. The presentation includes implications for assessment design that are relevant to any work that involves language and English Learners, including curriculum and professional development. This presentation was given by zoom in a very slightly different form to the annual meeting of the Council of State Science Supervisors, March 31, 2020. Tracy was happy to share her slides. [You can find them here](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/TNoble_TERCPresentation_EquitableScienceAssessmentsELs.pdf). Resources for this presentation are [available here](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/TNoble_ELsandScienceTestsResourceList.pdf). ![Moving Toward More Equitable Science Assessments for English Learners](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/Tracy%20Noble%20TERC%20Presentation.jpg) **Content Areas:** Professional Development Math **Authors:** TERC **Listen to the post** **Share This Page:** ![twitter sharing button](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/TERC_April2020/images/twitter.svg) Tweet ![facebook sharing button](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/TERC_April2020/images/facebook.svg) Share ![linkedin sharing button](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/TERC_April2020/images/linkedin.svg) Share [![email sharing button](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/TERC_April2020/images/email.svg) Email](mailto:?body=https://blog.terc.edu/moving-toward-more-equitable-science-assessments-for-english-learners) ## Sign up for updates! ### Subscribe to our blog ## Additional Blog Posts ![Earth Science - Free Hands-on Lessons for Educators](https://blog.terc.edu/hubfs/Biosphere.jpg) ###### [Earth Science - 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