Empowering Dual Language Immersion and Bilingual Education with the AAPPL
The only ACTFL assessment for learners in grades 3-12, tailored to benchmark, measure growth, and drive meaningful outcomes in DLI and bilingual programs.
Bring the AAPPL to Your Program
The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) is uniquely designed for DLI and bilingual programs, offering a precise and comprehensive age-appropriate measure of performance toward proficiency across all communicative modes. In addition, the Unilingual AAPPL-Spanish is ideal for Spanish-speaking learners in grades 5-12 who have been in the U.S. three years or less. This test form has all prompts and instructions in Spanish. The AAPPL provides scores on the ACTFL scale and actionable insights that guide learners toward proficiency, setting it apart as a clear choice for programs committed to measurable growth and positive student outcomes.
Why AAPPL for Dual Language Immersion and Bilingual Education?
Official: The AAPPL is developed in accordance with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines-2024 and is the only K-12 test which issues official ACTFL scores, giving you the confidence of using an assessment rooted in proven standards and recognized everywhere.
Comprehensive: AAPPL scoring is based on all four criteria of proficiency as defined by ACTFL (function, comprehensibility, text type, and content/context), allowing you to pinpoint specific strengths and areas for growth.
Holistic: The AAPPL assesses all three communicative modes, including interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. The AAPPL is the only test that assesses interpersonal speaking. This ensures your learners gain well-rounded, practical communication skills. For learners in grades 3-4, only interpersonal listening and speaking is assessed, as literacy development is still dynamic and can’t be reliably assessed in a second language in earlier grades.
Aligned with standardized testing sequences:Starting in 3rd grade, AAPPL aligns with standardized testing practices, offering a developmentally appropriate, reliable measure of proficiency that complements students’ academic journeys from elementary through high school.
Data-Driven Insights for Growth
Benchmarking made easy: The AAPPL can help you set clear, proficiency-based benchmarks for your bilingual and immersion learners, helping you establish meaningful milestones at each stage of language development.
Robust reporting features: AAPPL’s detailed reports and analytics give you the tools to monitor progress, adjust instruction, and support individual growth. You can track proficiency gains over time with longitudinal reports, use data-driven insights to elevate student outcomes, and reinforce the value of bilingual education with comprehensive data reports.
Positive washback: The AAPPL is proven to provide positive washback by offering clear, actionable feedback that guides effective teaching practices and motivates students to deepen their language learning (Vyn, 2024).
Setting Students Up for Success Beyond High School
Seal of Biliteracy: With the AAPPL, you can set clear, achievable benchmarks, helping students achieve the proficiency levels needed to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.
Smooth transition to post-secondary: The AAPPL test alignment to the ACTFL Proficiency Scale facilitates articulation with advanced courses and higher ed (where ACTFL assessments are predominantly used).
Pathways to lifelong success: Bilingualism coupled with an official ACTFL rating gives students a competitive edge, enhancing college and career opportunities. ACTFL scores are widely accepted in academic, government, and commercial sectors: With official ACTFL scores, students can position their bilingualism as a lifelong asset that can lead to higher income and global career opportunities.
Research and Resources
Research Papers and Articles
Sustaining Dual Language Immersion: Partner Language Outcomes in a Statewide Program
A Validity Argument to Support the ACTFL Assessment of Performance Toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL)
Leveraging the AAPPL to Promote Positive Washback in K-12 Language Teaching
Does Early Elementary Dual Language Instruction Deliver as Promised?
Harnessing Data in DLI Programs to Build Confidence and Sustainability
Let the Data Show You the Way
A Closer Look at Testing Young Learners
The Future of Jobs: World Economic Forum
Webinars
Student Test Scores in DLI and non-DLI Programs: Telling the Story and What We Can Learn (Karl Bowman, Utah Department of Education and Francesco Fratto, Herricks Public Schools)Language at Work: Making AAPPL Data Actionable (Kristin Lowder and Alison LaGarry-Cahoon, Participate Learning)
AAPPL in Action: Leveraging Test Data to Drive Instructional Next Steps (Jody Lindsay, Alpine School District)
Data for Proficiency: Tools and Techniques (Amanda Robustelli-Price, Glastonbury Public Schools)
The Challenge of Balancing Content and Form (Fernando Rubio, Yale Center for Language Study)
Downloadable Resources
Why AAPPL Informational Resource
Language Proficiency in the Workplace Posters for Students
Multilingualism Is a Career Superpower Posters
Oral and Writing Proficiency in the Workplace
Multilingualism Is a Superpower Sticker
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – 2024
Making Languages Our Business
The Seal of Biliteracy Report
The Office of English Language Acquisition Infographics