ACCESS for ELLs

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

Greetings and congratulations on completing the 2019 ACCESS for ELLs test administration. Test results will be available electronically and in print on or about May 28.

Action Step: Demographic Data Validation Window

Between March 25–March 29, data validation will be required for schools that administered either online or paper-based ACCESS tests. This will be the only opportunity to correct errors in student results prior to their release.

In preparation for reporting accurate 2019 ACCESS results, Test Coordinators will be asked to log in to the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS) to review and, if necessary, correct any discrepancies in their student data. Discrepancies are inaccuracies in student demographic, accommodations, and test results. The procedure for correcting your school's student records is described below as well as in the accompanying email from DRC, also sent today.

Instructions for Correcting Student Records

The data validation process is designed to allow schools to identify 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 only the following fields:

• Student Demographic Information (See examples below)
  • First Name (e.g., incorrect spelling, hyphen, multiple names)
  • Last Name (e.g., incorrect spelling, hyphen, multiple names)
  • SASID (e.g., incorrect digit(s))
  • School (e.g., incorrect school)
  • Birthdate (e.g., incorrect date)
  • Enrolled Grade (e.g., incorrect grade)
• Individual Student Accommodations (e.g., missing or incorrect accommodation(s))
• Test Results / "Do Not Score" Codes (e.g., missing code or code incorrectly applied)

Please make sure that any changes to the student's demographic information above are also made in your district's March 2019 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.

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.