ACCESS for ELLs

EL Assessment Update: Release of ACCESS for ELLs Test Results and Post-Data Validation

Reporting ACCESS for ELLs Test Results

On or about May 28, schools should expect to receive a shipment of the following ACCESS for ELLs printed reports:

• Individual Score Reports (ISR)
• Student Roster Report
• School Frequency Report

Districts will receive the following printed report:

• District Frequency Report

ACCESS results will also be available electronically as follows:

• Reports in WIDA AMS on or about May 28;

• Student data files (CSV) in DropBoxes (on the Department's Security Portal) on or about June 28 (without SGPA, Yes/No progress indicators, and attainment indicators) and July 31 (including SGPA, Yes/No progress indicators, student-level progress targets, and attainment indicators); and

• ACCESS for ELLs School and District Summaries (EL327) and Student Rosters (EL627) in Edwin Analytics on or about July 9 (without progress indicators) and August 16 (with progress indicators and student-level progress targets)

Please carefully review this data in WIDA AMS and in DropBoxes upon their respective releases.

Post-Data Validation Window—May 28–June 5, 2019:

Test coordinators will be asked to verify and update student demographics in WIDA AMS for any student whose results are missing or whose demographic information is incorrect. The Department will not accept requests for data corrections—schools and/or districts must validate their own data by June 5. A separate email will be sent today by DRC with instructions for Post-Data Validation.

Scoring Appeals and Booklet Search Requests

Scoring appeals and booklet search requests must be submitted to the Department through this online form. These must be submitted to the Department by June 28. You will be informed by the Department if your request can be processed, since only a limited number of requests can be submitted to the testing vendor.

Participation Discrepancies

Districts and schools are responsible for reporting any errors in student participation (e.g., students who were exited from EL prior to ACCESS testing, but were coded incorrectly as EL in March 2019 SIMS) to the Department by July 17 at ACCESS@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-3625. Errors to student participation cannot be corrected after that date and may impact MCAS ELA participation, as well as district and/or school accountability.

WIDA AMS-Available Materials

Schools and districts will be able to view, download, and print copies of the score reports listed below, as well as a student data file in WIDA AMS. Instructions for accessing these documents are available in the WIDA AMS User Guide in the Secure Portal on the WIDA website. DRC will send test coordinators an email on or about May 16 with additional directions.

The following reports are also available electronically in WIDA AMS, under Student Score Results > Test Results:

• Kindergarten Parent Reports
• Individual Student Reports (ISR)
• Student Roster Report
• School Frequency Report
• District Frequency Report
• Student Response Files

Reports Sent to Parents

Schools must send Kindergarten Parent Reports and Individual Score Reports (ISR) to the home of the student together with an appropriate translated report. Print copies of translated score reports containing actual student data are available in 47 languages and can be generated in WIDA AMS under Student Score Results > On Demand.

Districts are encouraged to download sample letters to parents in the language of the home (where available) to accompany the reports. Letters should be copied onto school or district letterhead, signed by the appropriate school or district official, and sent to the home of the parents with the actual Kindergarten Parent Reports or Individual Score Reports.

Parent/Guardian Resources

Parent Handouts for ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs provide answers to basic questions about ACCESS for ELLs. Translations are available in 6 languages. Parent Guides for Score Reports for ACCESS for ELLs, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, and Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs include two-page documents that explain their child's score reports. Translations are available in 12 languages. A new resource available this year is a PowerPoint for talking with parents and families about ACCESS testing.

WIDA Score Report Resources and Webinar / Q & A Session

WIDA has developed a Training Module for WIDA AMS: Accessing Score Reports that provides information on how to view student reports, data files, and online results from WIDA AMS. Additionally, WIDA has recorded a Q & A webinar.

Interpretive Materials

Information about the reports and how each should be used and interpreted is available in the ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports and in the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports.

New materials available this year include:

• Individual Student Score Notes template
• Lesson Plans for talking with students about ACCESS testing and results
• Infographic for educators providing more information on how to analyze ACCESS scores, communicate results, collaborate with colleagues, and take action
• PowerPoint for talking with parents and families

Please contact Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing at ACCESS@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-3625.