English learner students' readiness for academic success: The predictive potential of English language proficiency assessment scores in Arizona and Nevada

Higher English language proficiency levels among English learner students in grades 3 and 6 in Arizona and Nevada were associated with higher passing rates on subsequent English language arts and math content tests. Grade 3 English learner students in Arizona and Nevada could score below the threshold for English language proficiency in 2009/10 and still have a 50 percent or higher probability of subsequently passing the English language arts and math content tests in 2010/11 or 2011/12; however, grade 6 students had to score above the proficiency threshold in order to have a 50 percent probability of subsequently passing the content tests