Supporting Equitable Assessment for Multilingual Learners of English

Supporting Equitable Assessment for Multilingual Learners of English introduces the E5 model of equitable assessment, an original ramework developed by the authors to guide fair and culturally responsive evaluation of multilingual learners of English. The model integrates five guiding principles: equity, equality, educational justice, equanimity, and empowerment, across three interrelated dimensions: affective, social-moral, and technical. Drawing on research, professional expertise, and lived classroom experience, the book examines the historical context of language assessment as well as its policies, the central role of emotional well-being, and the balance between content rigor and language accessibility. Each chapter combines conceptual foundations with practical tools, adaptable rubrics, and reflection prompts that enable educators to design assessments fostering student agency, cultural relevance, and academic mastery. The authors also address emerging opportunities and challenges, including the integration of technology, the impacts of global migration, and shifts in educational policy. By centering student voice and identity, this book provides educators, leaders, and policymakers with actionable strategies for building assessment systems that are academically rigorous, culturally grounded, and responsive to the evolving needs of today’s students.

About the Author

Michael T. Maksimchuk is an Assessment Consultant at Kent Intermediate School District, Michigan, USA.

Luis Javier Pentón Herrera is a Professor at VIZJA University, Poland.