ACCESS for ELLs

ELL Assessment Update: Test Administration Window

To:	Principals and English Language Learner (ELL) Directors
From:	Dan Wiener, Administrator of Inclusive Assessment
Date:	February 12, 2013

Greetings! Thank you for participating in the state's first administration of the ACCESS for ELLs tests. I am writing to provide important information on the ACCESS for ELLs testing schedule, particularly regarding schools closed for one or more days since February 8 due to the recent winter storm. To the extent possible, all schools should continue to test their ELL students and make every effort to meet the UPS pickup deadline of Friday, February 15. Please do not send back any partial shipments of test materials. Directions for arranging a UPS pickup from your school are provided on the green form in your test materials entitled "Returning Materials to MetriTech." If necessary, your school may wish to test students on Thursday, February 14, originally set aside as a packing day, in order to meet the Friday deadline. A small number of schools that were closed for several days may not be able to complete testing by Friday, February 15. In those instances, and only where absolutely necessary, we will allow schools to continue ACCESS for ELLs testing after the February break, with UPS pickup no later than Wednesday, February 27. (Note: High schools should be aware that the MCAS ELA retest will be given on February 27-28) If your school will test students after the February break, please send us the following information on Thursday, February 14:

name of the school and district
email address and phone contact
total number of ELL students to be tested; the number already tested; and the number remaining to be tested

Please fax this information to the attention of Paulette Watson, ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator, at 781-338-3630. Remember that schools must keep all test materials in a secure (locked) location during the break.

Reporting of Results

If the number of schools delaying their return of test materials is minimal, we are confident that results will be reported to schools and districts in May, though the exact date will depend on the receipt of all test materials from your school at the earliest possible date. We appreciate your flexibility as we attempt to meet the needs of schools during the unforeseen weather emergency. You may contact Paulette Watson in Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing, at pwatson@doe.mass.edu

Last Updated: February 15, 2013