The Basic Oral (English) Language Screening Tool (BOLST) is the statewide assessment to screen the basic oral language skills of migrant eligible Out-of-School Youth (OSY) and to assess their growth from the beginning to the end of a period of instruction from pre- to post-testing. This assessment is also designed to be a guide to help the educator understand where to start with instruction and what skill areas need additional support, alongside the expressed needs of the student.
The BOLST Staff Handout provides guidance about when and how to administer the BOLST and how to score points in each section.
The BOLST Assessment Form and Score Sheet provides the assessment questions and space to score the student responses.
Use the BOLST Listening and Graphics PPT to read the questions for you in person or online. The BOLST Assessment Form and Score Sheet is still needed to score the student responses.
The OPTIONAL BOLST Version 2 Assessment Form and Score Sheet is available to use once a student scores out of the original BOLST (receives a score of 40 points).
2025-26 Training Video Administering the BOLST remains the same for 2026-27.(Click the link or watch below!)
The content in this presentation is geared towards serving the migrant education programs in New York State as defined under Title I, Part C and the approved State Service Delivery Plan, and may NOT be appropriate to all situations.
Use the resources below to administer the BOLST in 2025-26.