Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

ELL Assessment Update: Back-to-School 2015-2016

To:	Principals and District English Language Learner (ELL) Program Directors
From:	Dan Wiener, Administrator of Inclusive Assessment Alexis Glick, ACCESS for ELLs Program Specialist
Date:	August 28, 2015

Greetings and welcome to the 2015-2016 school year. We are providing you with information on upcoming activities regarding ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. We anticipate an exciting year, with ACCESS for ELLS 2.0 now available as either a computer-based or paper-based assessment, or a combination of both, in each school. A comparison of the features and benefits of each format is available in the Comparison of Paper- and Computer-Based ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Tests. The Student Assessment office plans to provide frequent communications to familiarize you and your staff with the requirements of this new testing format. Please review and forward this and future ELL Assessment Updates to your staff, as appropriate. The following Department publication has been updated and is available on the Department's webpage.

Requirements for the Participation of English Language Learners in ACCESS for ELLs, MCAS, and PARCC (2015-2016 Update)

2016 ACCESS for ELLs: Important Dates

Activity	Dates
Schools order ACCESS for ELLs test materials	October 26-November 13, 2015
Online Test Setup	December 21, 2015-February 10, 2016
Test materials arrive in schools	January 4, 2016
Test administration window	January 7-February 10, 2016
Last date for schools to ship test materials	February 12, 2016
Results reported to schools and districts	May 20, 2016 (Projected)

The Role of ACCESS Test Coordinator and Technology Coordinator

In the coming weeks, Principals will be asked to identify the school's ACCESS for ELLs test coordinator and technology coordinator. Superintendents may also wish to designate staff to serve as the district's ACCESS for ELLs test coordinator and ACCESS for ELLs technology coordinator. These designations should be made by September 15, 2015 and communicated to your District Directory Administrator who will need to update your ESE District Profile. A list of Directory Administrators can be found on the Department's website. ACCESS Test Coordinators (either the principal or designee) will be responsible for:

the overall coordination of test administration activities in the school or district;
assisting in setting up additional user accounts in the new WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS) for prospective test administrators;
enrolling in and becoming familiar with the training course(s) and the Computer-Based Test Coordinator Checklist or Paper-Based Test Coordinator Checklist needed to serve as test coordinator;
ensuring that test administrators and technology coordinators have completed the necessary WIDA training courses and appropriate certification for their roles.

ACCESS Technology Coordinators will be responsible for:

system set-up and registration for students taking the computer-based (online) and paper-based tests;
completing web-based training sessions and Technology Coordinator Checklist on the WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS);
resolving any local system issues with Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), the ACCESS for ELLs test contractor.

Test Administrator Training/Certification for 2016 ACCESS for ELLs

Test administrators will administer either the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 computer- or paper-based tests to ELL students, as identified when test materials are ordered. As in previous years, they will be required to complete designated WIDA training course(s), checklists, and certification quizzes only for the paper-based Speaking test, Kindergarten test, and Alternate ACCESS. More information will follow on the specific requirements for test administration. In the meantime, test administrators may review the Computer-Based Test Administrator Checklist and the Paper-Based Test Administrator Checklist. Test coordinators and test administrators will need a WIDA personal account in order to access the training courses. For instructions on creating a WIDA Personal Account, please see Instructions for Creating WIDA Personal Accounts and Retrieving Passwords.

Save the dates! Important Training in Fall 2015

Registration is required and is open to all educators. Registration for the fall webinars is available. School and district staff can sign up at the WIDA Event Center or ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Preparation Resources. Note: The Q&A webinars will not require registration and are an additional drop-in opportunity for Test Coordinators and Test Administrators. Informational webinars conducted by WIDA staff:

Date	Resource	Purpose
Wednesday September 23, 2015, 11:30am and 2:00pm	Test Coordinator Overview Webinar	To provide information about Test Coordinator responsibilities, where to access more details, and get answers to additional questions
Thursday September 24, 2015, 11:30am and 2:00pm	Test Coordinator Overview Webinar	To provide information about Test Coordinator responsibilities, where to access more details, and get answers to additional questions
Wednesday September 30, 2015, 11:30am and 2:00pm	Test Administrator Overview Webinar	To provide information about Test Administrator responsibilities, where to access more details, and get answers to additional questions
Wednesday October 7th, 2015, 4:00pm	Technology Coordinator Overview Webinar	To provide Technology Coordinators with information, assist in planning for the use of computers to register and assess students, and to answer questions
Friday October 9th, 2015, 11:00am	Technology Coordinator Overview Webinar	To provide Technology Coordinators with information, assist in planning for the use of computers to register and assess students, and to answer questions
October 2015 - April 2016, first Wednesday of each month at 2:00pm	ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Q & A Webinars (with questions and responses posted to the WIDA website)	To provide additional opportunity for Test Administrators and Test Coordinators to ask questions

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Preparation Planning and Training
(Registration required for specified participant roles)

Date	Training	Purpose
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 8:30am - 12:30pm	Test Coordinator and Test Administrator Overview Face-to-face sessions (Locations to be announced)	To provide information about Test Coordinator and Test Administrator responsibilities, how to access additional information and resources, and answer any questions
Thursday October 8, 2015 8:30am - 12:30pm
Friday, October 9, 2015 8:30am - 12:30pm
Wednesday November 4, 2015 10:00am - 12:00pm	Technology Coordinator Webinars	To provide Technology Coordinators with information and assistance, and to answer any questions
Thursday November 5, 2015, 1:30pm - 3:30pm	Technology Coordinator Webinars

Please contact Alexis Glick in Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing at access@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-3625. Thank you for your attention to this important information.

Last Updated: September 3, 2015