When assessing bilingual students, which of the following is important to consider?

When assessing bilingual students, it is crucial to consider their developmental history and all languages they speak. This comprehensive approach acknowledges that a student's language abilities are often intertwined with their cultural background, experiences, and the context in which they have learned each language. By understanding a student's proficiency across all languages, educators and psychologists can better interpret their cognitive abilities, communication skills, and academic performance.

Considering only proficiency in English, native language skills, or performance on standardized English tests can lead to an incomplete and potentially misleading understanding of a student's overall abilities. Assessments that neglect the student's full linguistic repertoire may not accurately reflect their true cognitive functioning or academic potential, thereby impacting educational planning and interventions.