K-12 Case Studies

Measuring What Matters: How Denver, Iowa, Community Schools Strengthened Language Learning with the AAPPL

Denver Community Schools in Denver, Iowa, sought a way to ensure their Spanish language program aligned with ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines while providing students with access to the Iowa State Seal of Biliteracy. By implementing the AAPPL, the district gained data-driven insights to refine instruction, recognize student achievement, and validate program effectiveness.

Integration of AAPPL in Language Education at Northmont High School

With the revamp of the Ohio Department of Education standards in 2012, aligning with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, the Northmont High School educators began to transition from a grammar-first instructional approach to a proficiency based one. In 2019, Northmont became an early adopter of the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy, a prestigious award for high school students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in at least two languages. The educators at Northmont envisioned the Seal as a way to honor their highest performing world language students, as well as to honor and celebrate Integration of AAPPL in Language Education at Northmont High School Case Study the linguistic diversity in their school among their English Language Learners. After considering several assessment options for the Seal, they selected the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL).

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Implementation of Language Testing with the AAPPL for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Application at Roma Independent School District

This case study examines the details of the process to implement the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) as a tool to measure student growth as part of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) application by the Roma Independent School District (ISD). The case study also presents district outcomes on the AAPPL. The TIA is a Texas-based program that aims to reward outstanding teachers and improve student outcomes. Teachers who meet any of the Implementation of Language Testing with the AAPPL for the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Application at Roma Independent School District Case Study designations of Recognized, Exemplary, or Master are rewarded with a monetary incentive. Roma ISD administrators showed leadership in recognizing that measuring student growth in languages can enhance the student experience. For world languages, the AAPPL was identified as the most appropriate way to measure student growth.

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Benchmarking Language Outcomes with the AAPPL in a Dual Language Immersion Program at Alpine School District, Utah

Alpine School District, located in Utah County, Utah, is the largest district in the state, serving over 85,000 students across 85 schools. Of these, 5,472 students from kindergarten through 12th grade participate in its robust Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, which offers instruction in Chinese, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. The district’s DLI students attend 11 elementary, 8 middle schools, and 8 high schools, and new program paths are continuously being developed to meet growing demand. Since the State of Utah’s adoption of the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) for all DLI programs, this official ACTFL assessment for learners in grades 3-12 has been an integral part of the DLI program in the Alpine District and across the state.

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Integrating Language Credentialing in Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS), under the leadership of Dr. Michael Herrera, has successfully integrated multilingual credentialing into its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Partnering with Language Testing International(LTI), the school has implemented a framework for credentialing language ability among CTE students. This initiative has opened doors to enhanced career Integrating Language Credentialing in Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, especially for multilingual students, equipping them with industry-recognized credentials to compete in the global workforce. This case study provides a blueprint for educational institutions aiming to integrate language proficiency into their programs while addressing the evolving needs of the workforce.

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Recognizing Language as an Asset: Credentialing Students at Nashoba Valley Technical High School

In an increasingly globalized world, the ability to communicate across languages is a critical skill for success in both college and careers. Nashoba Valley Technical High School (Nashoba Tech), a regional school located in Westford, Massachusetts, has embraced this reality by offering a unique learning environment where students can explore career and technical education alongside academic programs and by implementing language credentialing through programs like the Seal of Biliteracy. As a Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator and Spanish teacher, Amy St. Arnaud works to ensure students have access to meaningful language credentialing opportunities that support their academic and professional goals.

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Implementing the AAPPL at an American School in Mexico

In a bilingual, globally-minded American School in Mexico City, language educators faced a familiar yet complex challenge: how to accurately place students with widely varying proficiency levels in Spanish and English, while also delivering targeted instruction to support individual growth. With a highly mobile international student population and diverse linguistic backgrounds, the need for a standardized, reliable tool was urgent. In 2021, the school turned to the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) to bridge this gap, and the results have been transformative.

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Building Proficiency with Purpose: How West Jefferson Hills School District Uses the AAPPL to Drive a Multilingual Future

West Jefferson Hills School District, just south of Pittsburgh, PA, has transformed its world language program from traditional grammar-based instruction to a dynamic, proficiency-based model. At the center of this transformation is the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), delivered by Language Testing International® (LTI). With a focus on realworld communication and aligned with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines - 2024, the AAPPL has become a critical component of the district’s mission to prepare students for lifelong success in a multilingual world.

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