PURPOSE
The purpose of the procedure is to provide information to staff, students and parents/guardians regarding placement and assessment in the World Language Programs in Moorhead Area Public Schools.
GENERAL STATEMENT
Any student enrolling at Moorhead High School (MHS) is encouraged to study a world language. In order to help the student achieve success in a language class, the student will start at the appropriate level for their skill. There are three categories to ensure the student is placed into a level that is appropriate for the demonstrated skill level.
1. Students who have never studied a language. They will be placed in Level 1 to learn the basics and begin building a foundation.
2. Students who transfer from another school. The transcript from their previous school will show what level they have completed, so the student will be placed in the next level at MHS.
The credits they earned at the previous school will transfer to their credit requirement here.
3. Native speakers and immersion students. The school district offers a placement test to decide upon the best level to begin. This is the Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) test which was approved by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language which measures proficiency through an on-line computer test using the student's reading and writing skill level in communicative situations. After the test is scored by the Center for Applied Second Language Studies, the student will enter the course which matches the test results.
The STAMP Assessment is only a placement test. The student will not receive credit for any courses that may be passed over. For example: If a student takes the STAMP test and is placed in Level 2, he/she will not receive credit for Level 1.