Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

EL Assessment Update: Data Validation for paper-based and computer-based ACCESS for ELLs

To:	Principals, District EL Program Directors, ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators, and ACCESS for ELLs Technology Coordinators
From:	Dan Wiener, Administrator of Inclusive Assessment Alexis Glick, English Proficiency Assessment Coordinator Bridgette Kelly, Computer-Based Testing and Training Specialist
Date:	March 16, 2018

Greetings and congratulations on completing the 2018 ACCESS for ELLs test administration. Test results will be available electronically and in print on or about May 31.

Action Step: Demographic Data Validation Window

Between March 26–April 4, data validation will be required for schools that administered either paper- or computer-based ACCESS tests. In preparation for reporting accurate 2018 ACCESS results, Test Coordinators will be asked to log on to WIDA AMS to review and, if necessary, correct any discrepancies in their student data. Data corrections made after the April 4 deadline will be available only at school or district expense. The procedure for correcting your school's student records is described below.

Instructions for Correcting Student Records

The data validation process is designed to allow schools to identify student demographic, accommodation, and test result records that may contain errors, and provide schools with the opportunity to correct inaccuracies before results are reported. You will be asked to review and, if needed, correct the following fields:

Student Demographic Information
- First Name
- Last Name
- SASID
- District
- School
- Birthdate
- Enrolled Grade
Individual Student Accommodations
Test Results / "Do Not Score" Codes

Please make sure that any changes to a student's demographic information are also made in your district's March 2018 SIMS, which will be the official source for reporting.

Data Validation Resources and Webinar

Instructions for viewing and editing student records can be found in the WIDA AMS User Guide: Data Validation Supplement on the WIDA website. This resource provides important information on reviewing and correcting student demographic records, accommodation records, and "do not score" test records. WIDA also has made available an ACCESS for ELLs 2.0: Data Validation webinar.

Update: 2017 ACCESS Results

The following documents have been posted on the ACCESS for ELLs 2017 Results page:

ACCESS for ELLs 2017 Statewide Results
2017 ACCESS for ELLs Results by District
2017 ACCESS for ELLs Results by School

Comparability of 2016 and 2017 ACCESS for ELLs Results

As a reminder, in 2016, the results of the new ACCESS 2.0 assessment were reported on the ACCESS 1.0 scale, resulting in the reporting of inflated progress percentages in 2016 (i.e., from 2015 to 2016). As noted in the ACCESS for ELLs 2016 Statewide Results: "the 2015 2016 results were reported about one-half to one full proficiency level higher than would have been reported if the new cut scores had been used, resulting in somewhat inflated proficiency levels for many students." In 2017, the new score scale for ACCESS 2.0 was applied, so therefore the 2016 and 2017 results are not comparable. You may want to compare your district's 2017 progress percentage against the 2015 percentage (rather than 2016).

WIDA Screener Online — Guidance on Submitting an Incomplete Domain

The WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to incoming students in Grades 1–12 to assist educators to identify students as English learners (ELs) and help educators make decisions about whether a student is a candidate for English language support services. For WIDA Screener Online testing, a student must first complete the Listening and Reading domains, then take the Speaking and Writing domains. In limited cases, a student may not be able to complete one or more domains, such as a first-year English learner or student with a disability. If a student is unable to complete a particular domain, ending a domain test is an option that would still allow a score report to be generated. See the attemptedness considerations below for further details. It may be advisable to try to administer the test again at another time if, for example, the student is visibly upset and not engaging with the test. However, you should consider terminating a domain if …

after multiple attempts, the student still does not complete the domain; or
you believe the student may have a disability that prevents him or her from completing the domain (e.g., student who is deaf or hard-of-hearing who is taking the Listening test).

A score will be generated in the domain if the minimum "attemptedness criteria" have been met, as shown in the table below.

Screener Test Domain	Minimum Criteria for "Attempting" the domain
Listening	Student logged in with test ticket credentials and clicked "Begin test" on a domain.
Reading	Student logged in with test ticket credentials and clicked "Begin test" on a domain.
Speaking	There is a sound file with an utterance (ambient sound and breathing are not enough to be considered "attempted"). A student must have clicked the record button on a response screen (other than during the practice test).
Writing	A visible key stroke was attempted (e.g., a letter, a symbol). Space bar and returns do not count as an attempt.

If the "attemptedness criteria" for a screener domain test are not met, then no score will be reported. Composite scores are not awarded if a domain involved in calculating the composite score is blank. For example, a student with a blank Speaking score would also receive blank Oral Language and Overall composite scores. If you elect to terminate screener testing in a domain, refer to the following documents for further instruction:

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 information.

Last Updated: March 15, 2018