ACCESS for ELLs
(Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners)

Background

Federal and state laws require that English learner (EL) students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In fulfillment of these laws, EL students are required to participate in ACCESS for ELLs tests, which replaced MEPA tests beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

ACCESS for ELLs are administered once annually in January-February.

• WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards on which ACCESS for ELLs tests are based

• Participation Requirements for EL Students, including EL students with disabilities, in MCAS

• Massachusetts Web Page on the WIDA Website

• Materials and Resources Available on the WIDA Website

• ELL Update: New Exit Criteria, Equivalent Proficiency Levels, and Recommended Amount of Language Instruction

• Guide to Understanding the Title III Reporting Elements for English Learners in Massachusetts for 2017 and Beyond

• Participation Guidelines: Which Students Should Take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs?

ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener General Resources

• EL Assessment Updates

• Instructions for Creating WIDA Personal Accounts

ACCESS for ELLs Test Administration Resources

• Alternate ACCESS Annual Technical Report 2020-2021 (log-in required)

• Paper ACCESS Annual Technical Report 2020-2021 (log-in required)

• Online ACCESS Annual Technical Report 2020-2021 (log-in required)

• School and District ACCESS for ELLs Planning Guide During COVID-19

• Mode Adjustments for ACCESS Testing 2016–2019

• Assessment Best Practices during COVID-19

• Principal's Pre-Administration Manual: Tasks to be Completed in 2021-2022 — updated January 2022

• Massachusetts State-Specific Directions ACCESS for ELLs Administration 2021-2022 — updated January 12, 2022

• WIDA AMS Supplement — Submit Incomplete Domain

• Service Now Form: Test Regeneration Request

• Instructions for Student Transfers During Testing

• Service Now Form: Tier Override Request

• Guidance to Students Prior to Taking the Online Speaking Test

• WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual 2021-2022

• Service Now Form: ACCESS for ELLs Irregularity Reporting

• Service Now Form: Request Permission to Test a Student in an Alternate Setting (ACCESS for ELLs)

• About the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs

• Service Now Form: Test Discrepancies — Request a Scoring Appeal or Test Booklet Search

• ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports and How to Use Them 2022

• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports and How to Use Them 2022

• Guide to Assigning Scores for Missing Domains on ACCESS for ELLs Tests (for English Learners with Disabilities)

• WIDA Screener for Kindergarten — Cut Scores for English Proficiency

Last Updated: September 12, 2022