ACCESS for ELLs

ELL Assessment Update - Accessing WIDA Screening Materials

To:	English Language Learner (ELL) Program Directors
Copy:	Superintendents and Principals
From:	Dan Wiener, Administrator of Inclusive Assessment
Date:	July 3, 2012

Greetings! As noted in my last update, Massachusetts has officially joined the WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) consortium, and beginning in January 2013 the ACCESS for ELLs test will replace MEPA as the statewide annual assessment for English language learners. (Further details are provided in the Commissioner's memorandum posted at http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=6889.) We are planning to provide you with information next week to assist you to begin the process of screening incoming students who may be eligible to receive ELL support services. On or around July 9, 2012, ELL program directors will receive an email from WIDA containing a district-wide user name and password to log in to view secure materials posted to the WIDA website. To prepare for this important email message, please add help@wida.us and widahelp@wcer.wisc.edu to your list of contacts. (If you do not receive the email message by July 12, please check your spam and/or junk mail folder, and check with your technology coordinator.) ELL program directors, or the superintendent's designee, are requested to distribute the login information from the WIDA email to individuals in your district who are responsible for the screening (i.e., assessment, identification, and placement) of new ELL students, in the event you wish to use the optional WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT) for this purpose. Since the login information provides access to secure materials, please use your professional discretion in distributing it to the appropriate staff. The login information in the WIDA email will provide access to the following free materials for use by your district on an optional basis, posted at http://wida.us/assessment/w-apt/:

Kindergarten Manual (W-APT)
Grades 1-12 Test Administration Manual (W-APT)
Scored Student Writing Samples
W-APT General Overview Webinar
W-APT Speaking & Writing Tests Webinar
W-APT Kindergarten Test Webinar

You are advised to review these materials this summer/fall to prepare for administering the W-APT in your district. The W-APT may also be used to determine which "tier" of the ACCESS for ELLs test (i.e., Tier 1, 2, or 3) to order next fall for a particular student. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact the WIDA Help Desk at 866-276-7735 or help@wida.us.

Last Updated: December 6, 2012