Colorado English Language Assessment

The CELA Placement Test is the only State approved instrument for initial placement/screening of new to district/school language minority students. The Placement Test data is used only to identify students as English language learners for placement into ELA Services.

For the initial cycle of Placement tests that will need to be administered, the office of Assessment and Research has hired retired personnel to help schools complete the tests. Additionally, trainings will be held through out the fall semester in order to get school personnel trained to give the exam.

For information about the CELA Placement Test, please call Armando Dominguez at 720-423-3372.

CELA Exam:

The Colorado Department of Education has recently identified content standards in English proficiency for English language learners. Federal and state legislation have mandated a new English proficiency test, the CELA (Colorado English Language Assessment), to assess these standards. All kindergarten through twelfth grade students who have been identified as having a language background other than English in the state of Colorado will participate in a statewide assessment in the areas of English proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, listening and comprehension.