A report on the Language Assessment Battery (LAB) explains, in question-and-answer form, the causes and results of some changes made in the test norms. The LAB is a test of communicative language competence, written in English and Spanish versions and used for student placement in the New York City Public Schools. The report describes the test battery briefly and explains why the test of English language proficiency is given to non-native speakers of English, how scores are interpreted, how test norms are developed, why renorming was necessary, effects of the new norms, how renorming affected norms on the Spanish version, why the LAB is an appropriate measure of English language proficiency for students who are non-native speakers of English, and the LAB's reliability and validity. It is concluded that the renormed test battery reflects the same absolute level of language proficiency and also the change in norm group performance. The new norm-referenced scores do not reflect a decline in level of English language proficiency but merely a change in the basis of comparison. The introduction of the new norms will result in more limited-English-proficient students entitled to special services. Three sample cases are included. (MSE)