Failure to include nonnative English speaking students in a testing program, something that is especially important in a state where a high school graduation test is administered, can cost students the opportunity to practice for the test, as well as the opportunity for diagnosis of educational attainment and feedback about their progress. For some students, the solution to these problems lies in assessment in the student's native language. Content assessment in the native language, otherwise known as native language assessment, provides a measure of what students know and a gauge of their native language literacy development. Before a test is administered, teachers, counselors, and program administrators should review each student's need for special accommodations. Test accommodations, which can include reading instructions in the student's native language, response accommodations, and accommodations in setting or facilities, can help students demonstrate what they actually know, although caution must be observed in using interpreters or in using test translations, since either of these approaches can yield misleading results. Native language assessment is an option that provides a way to incorporate more students into assessment programs. (Contains three references.) (SLD)