The Educational Sign Skills Evaluation (ESSE) is an approved test for K-12 Educational interpreters, teachers, and DHH staff. It is designed to provide a means of identifying the dominant signing style of an individual and to provide meaningful, personalized feedback on areas of strength and those in need of improvement. After being administered the full ESSE, the candidates will be presented with two scores, one for expressive skills and one for receptive skills. For the expressive portion, candidates may use SEE, Signed English, PSE, or ASL - typically using the type of signs expected of them to use with the students with whom they work. The receptive skills evaluation measures understanding of three types of signing, Signing Exact English, Pidgin Sign English and American Sign Language.
The ESSE consists of 1 Expressive and 1 Receptive Test. Plan to spend around 6 hours total taking both the Expressive and Receptive tests on the same day.
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The Expressive test (individual administration) takes approximately 45 minutes.
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The Receptive test (group administration) takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Note: Each ESSE candidate will receive specific information regarding their start and end times for each portion of the test.
The cost of ESSE evaluation is as follows:
ESSE Full Evaluation $350.00 (ESSE expressive plus ESSE:R)
Expressive Evaluation only $250.00 (ESSE: Interpreter or Teacher)
ESSE: R (receptive) only $100.00.
There is a proctor fee of $35.00.
Note: If you are interested in being evaluated in only one area of the ESSE, contact Yvonne Delgado at SEECenter@esc13.txed.net for additional registration information.
ESSE times are Central Standard Time (CST).
