DESE will conduct virtual workshops for new and returning school and district ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators in December, according to the schedule below. The Department will post the PowerPoint slides for the workshops on the Massachusetts state page on the WIDA website under Manuals, Guides and Workshops. If you are a new Test Coordinator, please ensure that you have taken the online training(s) in the WIDA Secure Portal for the tests you will administer before participating in the DESE training webinar.
Dates for the webinars are:
Please register.
All ACCESS Test Administrators and Test Coordinators must complete the online training course(s) listed below for the tests they will administer before the start of testing. In many cases, this includes passing the certification quizzes. See the ACCESS for ELLs Checklists for more information regarding required online training modules. The 2021-2022 ACCESS for ELLs training tutorials are available in the WIDA Secure Portal under the "Assessment Training" tab.
ACCESS Test Coordinator and Test Administrator Training and Certification Requirements
Those who were certified and who administered the ACCESS tests in 2021 (last school year) need not requalify on the quiz(zes). All others must take the online training and pass the certification quiz(zes). Individual certification history is available in the WIDA Secure Portal, under "Manage," then "My Profile."
Recertification is required every two years.
All Test Coordinators and Test Administrators administering ACCESS for the first time must view the online training modules for computer-based (online) testing, and pass the online Administration Quiz.
Technology Coordinators must view the training materials and complete the Technology Readiness Checklist for WIDA Online Assessments, located in WIDA AMS under General Information>Documents.
All Test Coordinators and Test Administrators administering ACCESS for the first time must view the online training modules for paper-based testing and pass the online quiz(zes) for any of the following assessments that will be administered:
The Department will pre-order tests for every school again this year, based on each school's October SIMS data and the test formats and other accommodations used by students the previous year. If a student enrolls after the district's October SIMS submission, or if a different test is needed for a student than was pre-ordered, the school should order the appropriate test materials during the Additional Test Materials Ordering Window between January 4–February 4, 2022.
On or about December 2, DESE will post the Pre-ID files that were used to place test orders for each school in their ACCESS 2022 DropBox on the Security Portal. Schools should review these files during the test setup window (December 2, 2021–February 18, 2022) and make any changes needed, including the addition of new students, by downloading the file in Excel. Once changes are made, the file should be saved in csv format before uploading to WIDA AMS. (DRC will send an email on or about November 23, 2021 to describe this procedure in detail). Changes made in WIDA AMS will override what was pre-loaded. Students who were exited from EL status after October SIMS should be removed from test sessions during test setup and coded as non-EL in March SIMS. Students who enrolled after October SIMS should be added to test sessions.
The following accommodations will be pre-ordered for students who used these last year, including:
ACCESS Test Coordinators should make sure those accommodation(s) are still required and are listed (or updated) in WIDA AMS prior to testing the student.
Virtually all students are expected to take computer-based (i.e., online) tests, with the following exceptions: paper-based tests may be ordered during the Additional Test Materials Ordering window (January 4–February 4) for students who are either a first-year EL with no familiarity with computers, or an EL with a disability that would prevent them from testing on a computer. Students in grades 1–3 will take the test online but will be provided paper "handwriting" booklets in which to record their responses on the Writing test. "Handwriting" booklets will arrive with test materials shipped to your school and will include overage that should be used as needed before ordering additional materials. Additionally, paper tests will be ordered for students in Kindergarten. Students who took the Alternate ACCESS in 2021 will also have that test format pre-ordered for 2022.
On December 2, schools may begin the process of Test Setup in WIDA AMS, during which ACCESS Test Coordinators can verify and change test sessions, update student demographic information (including accommodations), add students who enrolled in their school after the October SIMS was submitted to DESE, or remove students who exited after the October SIMS was submitted to DESE. More information on managing test sessions is available beginning on page 62 of the WIDA AMS User Guide.
The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is available for EL students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades 1–12. The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is not available for students in kindergarten. EL students should participate in the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs if they meet the criteria described in the Participation Guidelines: Which Students Should Take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs? posted to the DESE ACCESS website.
The following resources contain useful information regarding test preparation, management, and administration. Please review them prior to and during test administration.
Educational Technology Coordinators should ensure they have updated their contact information in the DESE School and District Profiles and in WIDA AMS for school year 2021-2022 if this information has changed since last year. District ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators are authorized to create new Educational Technology Coordinator accounts by following the instructions.
Educational Technology Directors and District ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinators should also review the updates described in the email sent from DRC on November 10, 2021 in preparation for ACCESS for ELLs testing in January/February 2022. Further information is provided in the Technology User Guide available in WIDA AMS under My Applications>General Information>Documents. Please contact DRC Customer Support with any questions at WIDA@DataRecognitionCorp.com or call 1-855-787-9615.
Updated Supported System Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs Online and WIDA Screener Online have been posted to WIDA AMS. These system requirements are valid for October 2021–February 2022.
Contact DRC Customer Support at wida@datarecognitionacorp.com or 855-787-9615 with any questions.
Districts are invited to participate in a field study to determine the appropriate cut scores for English proficiency used to identify students entering second semester kindergarten and first semester first grade in January 2022. The field study will occur between December 1, 2021 and February 11, 2022 for the Reading and Writing domains and will involve "double-screening" a small number of students on the screener currently used by the district and the new WIDA Screener for Kindergarten. Students should be given a short break between screeners and districts should be prepared to report screener scores for those students.
Please email your name, district, and the name of the kindergarten screener you currently use to access@mass.gov . Information and details will be emailed to you separately.
As a reminder, the K Screener is not yet available for use as a tool to identify students for English language services. The K W-APT and the K MODEL are the only screeners approved for that purpose. The K Screener is anticipated to be ready for use as a screening tool in March 2022.
Please review and forward this and future EL Assessment Updates to your staff, as appropriate.
Contact Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing at access@mass.gov or by phone at 781-338-3625.
Thank you for your attention to this important information.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.