ACCESS for ELLs

ELL Assessment Update: Back-to-School

To:	Principals, District ELL Program Directors, ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators, and ACCESS for ELLs Technology Coordinators
From:	Dan Wiener, Administrator of Inclusive Assessment Alexis Glick, ELL Assessment Coordinator
Date:	September 16, 2016

Greetings and welcome back to school. We are providing you with preliminary information on the 2017 ACCESS for ELLs tests, and additional information and resources to assist in your preparation to administer the ACCESS tests in January February 2017. The Student Assessment office will provide you with frequent updates during the school year to familiarize you and your staff with testing requirements and to assist you in planning and scheduling the ACCESS tests. In addition, the Fall 2016 ACCESS Principal's Pre-Administration Manual will be available soon with details on the tasks to be completed prior to testing. Please review and forward this and future ELL Assessment Updates to your staff, as appropriate. Identify staff to serve as Test Coordinator and Technology Coordinator During September, principals should designate staff to serve as the ACCESS for ELLs School Test Coordinator. The district should assign a District Test Coordinator and a District Technology Coordinator. Designations should be made as soon as possible and communicated to your District Directory Administrator who will need to update your school's ESE Profile by September 23. These individuals will receive important communications from WIDA and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), the testing contractor, throughout the year.

ACCESS Test Coordinator Training - Workshop Dates

Districts may register up to two test coordinators to attend a 2017 ACCESS training session, unless the district has been otherwise notified regarding additional seats. Sessions will be held at the following locations:

Holyoke Community College - Friday, September 30, 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (face-to-face)
Devens Common Center - Monday, October 3, 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (face-to-face)
Conference call - Tuesday, October 18, 9:00 a.m.-Noon
Massasoit Community College, Brockton - Friday, October 28, 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. (face-to-face)

Reporting students accurately in October SIMS

Please ensure that ELL students are reported accurately to the Department in the district's October 2016 Student Information Management System (SIMS) submission by your District Directory Administrator, and that students who have exited ELL status are no longer reported as LEP/ELL.

2017 ACCESS for ELLs: Important Dates

Activity	Dates
Schools order ACCESS for ELLs test materials	October 24-November 10, 2016
Online Test Set-up	December 12, 2016-February 8, 2017
Test materials arrive in schools	January 3, 2017
Test administration window	January 5-February 8, 2017
Last date for schools to ship test materials	February 10, 2017
Results reported to schools and districts	May 24, 2017 (Projected)

Before ordering test materials, determine if your school will administer paper- and/or computer-based ACCESS assessments. ACCESS tests will be available for students in grades 1 12 for the 2016 2017 school year in online and paper formats. Before placing the school's order for test materials, schools must determine whether to administer the computer- or paper-based tests to their ELL students, and order their test materials accordingly. Schools may choose to give computer-based or paper-based assessments, or a combination of both (e.g., computer in some grades and paper in others). In schools giving computer-based ACCESS tests, paper-based versions will be available as an accommodation for ELLs with disabilities. ACCESS handwriting booklets for the Writing test will continue to be available for students taking the computer-based test in the other three test domains. Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs tests will continue in paper-based format for students designated for those assessments. The Commissioner strongly encourages schools to take steps to adopt computer-based testing, in keeping with the Board's expectation of statewide computer-based testing by 2019.

Ordering ACCESS test materials

Schools will receive an email from DRC, WIDA's testing contractor, on or about October 24 with instructions on the procedure for ordering test materials through the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS) through the end of the ordering window on November 10. If ordering paper-based test materials, it is recommended that test coordinators view the Ordering Materials training module on the WIDA website before placing their orders.

Test Coordinator and Test Administrator Training/Certification for 2017 ACCESS for ELLs

Test coordinators and test administrators will be required to complete the designated WIDA online training course(s) (modules) and certification quizzes according to the tests they will administer. Test administrator training and certification should occur as close as possible to the actual dates of test administration. Computer-based test coordinators and test administrators, whether first-time or those with prior experience, must view online training modules for the computer-based tests and recertify for the 2017 ACCESS administrations. Paper-based test coordinators and test administrators who were trained and certified in 2015 2016 (last school year) are required to complete only the training and certification quiz for the Speaking test in the grade-span being administered. However, a review of the training modules is strongly recommended. First-time or recently-designated paper-based test coordinators and administrators must complete the Group Test Administration (Listening, Reading, and Writing) training and Paper Administration Quiz. Test coordinators and test administrators who were certified to administer Kindergarten ACCESS and/or Alternate ACCESS for ELLs in the 2015 2016 school year do not need to recertify, though a review of training modules is strongly recommended.

WIDA Personal Accounts

A WIDA personal account will be required to access the training materials and other resources available on the WIDA website. WIDA accounts set up previously are still active do not create a new personal account. Educators who wish to set up an account may do so by following the instructions posted on the Department's website. WIDA personal accounts may be updated with new information (e.g., district or state) by first logging in, then using the gray column on the right. Contact WIDA Help at 866-276-7735 or help@wida.us for assistance in setting up or accessing a WIDA personal account.

WIDA AMS Accounts

A WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS) account will be required to order test materials; manage the addition, updating, and deletion of student names and information; manage the administration of online ACCESS tests; and view score reports. Existing WIDA AMS accounts will remain active for 2017 ACCESS testing, but these users will receive a new password from DRC in early October for the 2016 2017 school year. Existing users can create accounts for new users in their district or school. Instructions can be found in the WIDA AMS User Guide or contact your District or School ACCESS Test Coordinator.

Test Administration Resources on the Department's website (available now or shortly)

ACCESS for ELLs Principal's Pre-Administration Manual (Tasks to be completed in Fall 2016) - coming soon

ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator Training (PowerPoint) - coming soon

Bilingual Dictionaries and Glossaries Authorized for Use by English Language Learners on MCAS Tests (Updated Fall 2016)

Accessibility and Accommodations Manual for the Spring 2017 MCAS Grades 3-8 Tests (Including Participation Requirements and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners)

Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners in the 2016-2017 MCAS High School Tests

Resources available on the WIDA website

Training for test coordinators and test administrators

Practice ACCESS tests and sample test items (use Chrome browser, if available)

WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT)

Please contact 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: October 7, 2016