Fact check
“Nearly 113,000 students took the 2026 AZELLA, resulting in the reclassification of about 30,000 students as proficient.”
Reasoning
The evidence states that nearly 113,000 students took the 2026 AZELLA and that about 30,000 were reclassified as proficient, directly matching the claim.
On confidence: Two independent excerpts from the same ProPublica article provide consistent figures for test takers and reclassifications.
Important context
The figures come from the Arizona Department of Education as reported by ProPublica, reflecting changes after the test's passing score was lowered.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceArizona Made It Easier for Students to Pass AZELLA English Test — ProPublica
“I don’t see any basis for validity whatsoever.” After dropping during the pandemic, AZELLA passing rates held steady at 12% statewide for three school years, including in 2025, when more than 118,000 took the test and just over 14,000…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceArizona Made It Easier for Students to Pass AZELLA English Test — ProPublica
resulting in the reclassification of about 30,000 students as proficient and their removal from English-language services this school year. Students in the structured English immersion program head to class on a recent August morning.…
Limitations
Both excerpts are from the same news source; no additional independent data sources were provided to corroborate the numbers.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:11 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Arizona Lowered the Bar for Its English Fluency Test. Experts Say It Will Harm Students in the Long Run.ProPublica · Rafael Carranza