DESE will conduct webinars for new and returning ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators this fall, according to the schedule below. Each district may register a limited number of participants. The registration number per district has been increased from previous years, but in most cases, four participants per district may attend, with larger districts receiving more. Once the district's limit has been reached, registration will be closed and the district name will no longer be available in the dropdown menu. The Department will soon post the PowerPoint slides for the webinar on the Massachusetts state page on the WIDA website. If you are a new Test Coordinator, please ensure that you have taken the online training(s) in the WIDA Secure Portal for the tests you will administer before participating in the DESE training webinar.
Dates for the webinars are:
Please register at 2021 ACCESS for ELLs Fall Test Coordinator Training Webinars.
The Department will pre-order tests for every school again this year, based on each school's October SIMS data and the test formats and other accommodations used by students the previous year. If a student enrolls after the district's October SIMS submission, or if a different test is needed for a student than was pre-ordered, the school should order the appropriate test materials during the Additional Test Materials Ordering Window between January 4–February 19, 2021.
On or about December 3, DESE will post the Pre-ID files that were used to place test orders for each school in their ACCESS DropBox on the Security Portal. Schools should review these files during the test setup window (December 3, 2020 – February 25, 2021) and make any changes needed, including the addition of new students, by downloading the file in Excel. Once changes are made, the file should be saved in csv format before uploading to WIDA AMS. (DRC will send an email on or about November 24, 2020 to describe this procedure in detail). Changes made in WIDA AMS will override what was pre-loaded. Students who were exited from EL status after October SIMS or who were provisionally identified as EL, but rescreened and determined not to be EL after October SIMS, should be removed from test sessions during test setup and coded as non-EL in March SIMS.
Three accommodations will be pre-ordered for students who used these last year, including:
ACCESS Test Coordinators should make sure those accommodation(s) are still required and are listed (or updated) in WIDA AMS prior to testing the student.
Districts should begin to strategize and plan to designate testing sites in preparation for in-person ACCESS for ELLs testing in January–February 2021. No remote testing options will be available. Therefore, students learning remotely will need to bring their school-issued laptops (and headsets, if these were also distributed) to the school or testing site on the day of their test administration.
Virtually all students are expected to take computer-based (i.e., online) tests, with the following exceptions: paper-based tests may be ordered during the Additional Test Materials Ordering window (January 4–February 19) for students who are either a first-year EL with no familiarity with computers, or an EL with a disability that would prevent them from testing on a computer. Students in grades 1–3 will take the test online but will be provided paper "handwriting" booklets in which to record their responses on the Writing test. "Handwriting" booklets will arrive with test materials shipped to your school and will include overage that should be used as needed before ordering additional materials. Additionally, paper tests will be ordered for students in Kindergarten. Students who took either the Braille test or Alternate ACCESS in 2020 will also have those test formats pre-ordered for 2021.
On December 3, schools may begin the process of Test Setup in WIDA AMS, during which ACCESS Test Coordinators can verify and change test sessions, update student demographic information (including accommodations), add students who enrolled in their school after the October SIMS count was submitted to DESE, or remove students who exited or were first provisionally identified as EL and rescreened and determined to be non-EL after the October SIMS count was submitted to DESE. More information on managing test sessions is available beginning on page 68 of the WIDA AMS User Guide.
Please see the email from DRC sent to Educational Technology Directors on November 4 regarding "Annual DRC ACCESS Technology Updates" for information regarding computer software updates to be completed prior to ACCESS testing. Note that if school computers have been provided to students for remote or hybrid instruction, please allow a few minutes prior to testing to complete installing Insight updates. Updating generally takes less than five minutes, but please leave enough time to complete this activity.
All ACCESS Test Administrators and Test Coordinators must complete the online training course(s) listed below between October 2020 and the start of testing (preferably, as close as possible to the time of testing) for the tests they will administer. See the ACCESS for ELLs Checklists for more information regarding required online training modules. The 2020-2021 ACCESS for ELLs training tutorials are available in the WIDA Secure Portal by clicking on either the Paper-Based Grades 1–12 or Online Grades 1–12 tiles.
Those who were certified and administered ACCESS tests in 2019-2020 (last year) need not requalify on the quiz. All others must pass the appropriate Administration Quiz with a score of 80% or higher. Training history is available on the WIDA Secure Portal, under the "My Training & Quiz History" tile. Training courses are available under "ACCESS for ELLs Training Courses" and "Screener Test Materials & Training" in the WIDA Secure Portal.
Recertification is required every two years.
All Test Coordinators and Test Administrators administering ACCESS for the first time must view the online training modules for computer-based (online) testing, and pass the online Administration Quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
Technology Coordinators must view the training materials and complete the checklist for Technology Coordinators, located on the WIDA Secure Portal.
All Test Coordinators and Test Administrators administering ACCESS for the first time must view the online training modules for paper-based testing and pass the online Administration Quiz with a score of 80% or higher for any of the following assessments that will be administered:
The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is available for EL students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades 1–12, but is not available for students in Kindergarten. EL students should participate in the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs if they meet the criteria described in the Participation Guidelines: Which Students Should Take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs? recently posted to the DESE ACCESS website.
The following resources contain useful information regarding test preparation, management and administration. Please review them prior to and during test administration.
Massachusetts educators who have a WIDA personal account will receive weekly emails from WIDA regarding relevant information on the instruction and assessment of ELs in Massachusetts. Please review this important information when it is sent to you. If you are not receiving these emails, please make sure your WIDA personal account is updated with your correct email address.
If you do not have a WIDA personal account and wish to create one for the first time, please see the Instructions for Creating WIDA Accounts on the DESE website. Those with an existing account that may be outdated may wish to update their account information in the WIDA Secure Portal. Please see the instructions page on the DESE website for information how to update your WIDA account.
DESE has issued guidance regarding safety during the pandemic in the Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance and in the Commissioner's Weekly Update for November 2, 2020. In addition, WIDA has provided safety guidance that will be addressed during the ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator training webinars, including the following.
For the online test:
For the paper-based test (including Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS):
WIDA will hold monthly webinars from September 2020–March 2021. The webinar schedule, topics, and links to join webinars are available in the WIDA Secure Portal Download Library accessed through your WIDA personal account.
Please contact Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing at access@mass.gov or by phone at 781-338-3625.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.