Diné language learning assessment tool approved

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – At the regular meeting, held December 2 in the Sunrise Conference Room of the Department of Diné Education, the Navajo Nation Board of Education (NNBOE) unanimously approved by a resolution to implement a Diné Language Learning Assessment Tool.  Dr. Pauline M. Begay, President, presided the meeting with seven Board members present.   Dr. AnCita Benally, Program Manager of the Office of Standards, Curriculum and Assessment Development (OSCAD), presented the Resolution before NNBOE.

In the fall of 2015, it was widely agreed upon by Diné Language/Culture teachers that a more current and student-focused Diné oral language learning assessment tool was needed. Accordingly, the OSCAD, in partnership with a team of volunteers collaborated to formally to review and restructure the current Oral Diné Language Assessment (ODLA).

In October, Dr. AnCita Benally through correspondences contacted five schools to participate in the initial phase of the implement of the new oral language assessment.  “The Task Force will work with you to set the schedule and work out other detail pertaining to the testing”, Dr. Benally said. “Your school will select a grade level group to pilot.”  The five participating schools signed Pledge Note to work with the team to pilot the new oral assessment.

According to Dr. Benally’s presentation, the primary purpose of the new assessment is to increase Navajo students’ fluency level in the Navajo language.  A pre-test data of BIA and Grant schools shows there is a dramatic decline in Navajo language by students.  The data revealed only 8 students are fluent out of 3,062 Navajo students.  The new Diné Language Learning Assessment aims to reverse the decline of Navajo language among young Navajo students.

The assessment team completed all components of the new oral language assessment and the team is ready to begin the initial phase of implementing the assessment. The initial phase will determine any necessary refinements and will target grades from preK to 12 to make any changes or improvements.

Five schools will participate in the initial phase of the implementation of the “Bizaad Hahóózood language assessment in January 2017. Those schools are the Rock Point Community School, Little Singer Community School, Dzilth-Na-O-Dithle Community School, Wide Ruins Community School, and the Winslow High School, which is a Arizona state public school.

In the presentation, Dr. Benally said, “Proper training will be provided to teachers both in the spring and fall to certify potential testers.  Each school and tester will be required to sign assurances for the safekeeping of all assessment materials. Data will be collected using secure guidelines.”

“In January 2017, we will conduct pilot tests at the 5 selected school sites,” said Afton Sell, Senior Education Specialist at OSCAD.  “Tests are to be completed by the following month. In March 2017, we will be busy analyzing the test results and develop new assessments if necessary which all depends on the test results.”  In the fall of 2017, OSCAD plans to include six additional pilot schools.

As Board members are making their final statement of support on the adoption of the Resolution, board member Dr. Bernadette Todacheene said, “Learning the Navajo language and culture is a lifelong learning process.  Once we lose our language and culture, we are no longer a tribe.  This resolution is good.”

 Board member Gloria Johns motioned and Board member Bennie Begay seconded the motion to approve the resolution.  After the discussion, the resolution was unanimously approved by a vote of five in favor.