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

Background and Student Participation

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

EL students are also required to participate in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests for their grade.

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

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

• Mode Adjustments for ACCESS Testing 2016–2019

• ELL Update: New Exit Criteria, Equivalent Proficiency Levels, and Recommended Amount of Language Instruction (2017)

ACCESS for ELLs Tests and WIDA Screeners — General Resources

• EL Assessment Updates

• Instructions for Creating WIDA and WIDA AMS Personal Accounts

• Massachusetts State Page on the WIDA Website

• Materials and Resources Available on the WIDA Website

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

• About the WIDA Screeners

• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test Information

• 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)

• About the ACCESS for ELLs Tests (ACCESS Online, ACCESS Paper, Kindergarten ACCESS, Alternate ACCESS)

• WIDA Screener for Kindergarten — Cut Scores for English Proficiency

ACCESS for ELLs Tests — Test Administration and Reporting Resources

• Principal's Pre-Administration Manual for ACCESS for ELLs: Tasks to be Completed in 2022-2023

• Massachusetts State-Specific Directions ACCESS for ELLs Administration 2022-2023

• WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual 2022-2023

• WIDA AMS Supplement — Submit Incomplete Domain

• Instructions for Student Transfers During Testing

• Guidance to Students Prior to Taking the Online Speaking Test

• ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports 2023

• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports 2023

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

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

ACCESS for ELLs Service Now Forms

• Service Now Form: Tier Override Request

• Service Now Form: Test Regeneration Request

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

• Service Now Form: ACCESS for ELLs Irregularity Reporting

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

Last Updated: May 11, 2023