A major part of SLTI’s work is the development of foreign or second language proficiency tests for agencies of the federal or state governments or for larger testing companies who desire to offer such tests to their clients. SLTI develops customized instruments tailored to the client's needs. SLTI can also assist clients who are involved in test development projects.  Second language proficiency tests may assess one or more of four communicative skills: listening, speaking, reading, or writing. These skills are interrelated, but are nonetheless distinct. If you need more information or would like to discuss the possible development of a second language proficiency test by SLTI, please contact Dr. Charles Stansfield at 301-231-6046 or Cstansfield@2LTI.com.


National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Since 2005, SLTI has reviewed NAEP Reading, Mathematics, and Science items prepared by other test development contractors. From 2005 to 2007, SLTI was a subcontractor to the NAEP Educational Statistical Services Institute (NESSI). We started working directly with Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 2008. As a NESSI subcontractor, SLTI prepared several short reports on a variety of issues relevant to the NAEP assessments. These included reports on universal design principles, the use of plain English and clear language, principles of good item writing, and style and presentation issues in computer-based testing. SLTI also developed a NAEP Style Guide for test developers and test development contractors. Additionally, SLTI provided staffing support to NESSI and the National Center for Educational Statistics at NAEP test development committee meetings. SLTI also translated NAEP publications to Spanish for delivery in Puerto Rico. These included a report on the results of the 2003 and 2005 NAEP Mathematics assessments conducted in Puerto Rico. Today, SLTI is a member of the NAEP translation team, which means that we translate (or review the translation of) all NAEP materials, reports, and documents that will be translated to Spanish.

National Geographic Educational Publishing
NGEP publishes a series of readers for ELLs and other students reading below grade level. In 2007-2008, SLTI developed two parallel forms of placement tests and exit tests for the series under contract with NGEP. Following field testing, SLTI also contributed sections to the test’s technical manual.

English for Academic Purposes
Since 2007, SLTI has assisted a European test development company in its efforts to develop and field-test a new English for Academic Purposes (EAP) test tied to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). SLTI has been involved in the item development, item review, scoring, and ancillary document creation stages for this new test.

Delaware Department of Education
SLTI developed, field-tested, and validated the Delaware’s English Language Learners Assessment (DELLA) for the Delaware Department of Education. The DELLA is an alternate assessment of English language arts for English language learners for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.

GED Testing Service 
SLTI developed multiple forms of a test of reading proficiency in English as a second language for the GED Testing service.

Listening Summary Translation Exams (LSTE)Between 2001 and 2006, SLTI developed, field-tested, equated and validated a series of Listening Summary Translation Exams in Arabic (Egyptian, Iraqi, Syrian, Algerian, and Yemeni) for the FBI.