ACCESS for ELLs

EL Assessment Update: ACCESS for ELLs Important Post-testing Reminders

Greetings and thank you for all you continue to do for multilingual students each day. Included in this update are important announcements and reminders regarding ACCESS for ELLs Data Validation, reporting of ACCESS test results, and the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test.

ACCESS Pre-Reporting Data Validation: March 27–31, 2023

The pre-reporting data validation window provides an opportunity for schools to correct any demographic errors for students who participated in the recently completed 2023 ACCESS test administration. This will be the only opportunity to correct the information listed below before ACCESS results are released in WIDA AMS on May 12. School Test Coordinators should review and correct (if needed) the following information between March 27–31:

• First and last names (look for incorrect spelling, hyphens, or multiple names for the same student)
• SASID (ensure that district ID or incorrect numbers are not listed in place of the state-assigned student ID)
• School
• Birthdate
• Enrolled grade
• Accommodations (correct any missing or incorrect accommodations)
• Test results/"Do Not Score" codes (correct any codes or remove codes incorrectly applied)

Also please ensure that any changes are also corrected in your March SIMS report.

ACCESS Score Reports Available in WIDA AMS: May 12

District- and school-level reports will be available in WIDA AMS on May 12, including:

• District Frequency Distribution Reports — Number of students and percentage of total tested at each proficiency level for each language domain, and four composite proficiency levels, for grades within the district.
• School Frequency Distribution Reports — Number of students and percentage of total tested at each proficiency level for each language domain, and four composite proficiency levels, within a school.
• School Roster Reports — Scale scores and language proficiency levels for each language domain, and four composite proficiency levels by grade, student, and grade-level cluster within a school.
• Individual Student Reports — Individual student scale scores and language proficiency levels for each language domain and four composite proficiency levels. A .pdf file is provided with multiple student reports, available in Spanish or English.
• Student Response Files — District — Individual Student test data, including various test scores for the district.

2023 ACCESS for ELLs Webinars

The Department will offer opportunities for ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators, EL Program Directors, and Principals to receive important information and ask questions regarding relevant topics during the ACCESS testing cycle. Participants will be required to register for all sessions they wish to attend. Upcoming webinars are listed below:

• ACCESS Data Validation — March 23, 2023, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
• ACCESS Reporting and Benchmarks — May 9, 2023, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Please register for ACCESS Data Validation webinar and for ACCESS Reporting and Benchmarks webinar. A confirmation message will appear on your screen once you have successfully registered. Upon completing registration, you will receive an email from Alchemer with the link to the webinar. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder. Email ACCESS@mass.gov with questions about registration.

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test

Schools are encouraged to participate in WIDA's Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test in order to ensure WIDA has sufficient data necessary for the 2024 Alternate ACCESS for ELLs test. At least 25% of current Alternate ACCESS for ELLs participants in your school should participate in the Field Test. Any kindergarten students who would take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs if one were available currently should also participate in the Field Test. Please see the Participation Guidelines: Which Students Should Take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs? for guidance on which students may be eligible for the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs. Field Test materials arrived in schools on February 7. Students should be tested between February 14 and April 17, 2023. If your school has April break beginning April 17, please ensure testing is complete and materials are returned to DRC by April 14, 2023.

Test administrators should complete the field test training and related quizzes located in the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: Administration and Scoring training course in the WIDA Secure Portal. The added training content should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

For up-to-date information about the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test, including how to order additional materials, please visit Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test: Coming to schools in early 2023.

Contact Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing at ACCESS@mass.gov or by phone at 781-338-3625.

Thank you for your attention to this information.