ACCESS for ELLs

EL Assessment Update: Data Validation, 2023 ACCESS Testing Window, and K W-APT Reminder

Greetings and thank you for your continued work to support multilingual students each day. Included in this update are several important announcements and reminders.

ACCESS Post-Reporting Data Validation: May 14–June 1, 2022

The post-reporting data validation window provides one last opportunity for schools to correct any demographic errors for students who participated in the 2022 ACCESS test administration before DRC releases updated files on June 15. School Test Coordinators should review and correct (if needed) the following information between May 24–June 1:

• First and last names (incorrect spelling, hyphens, or multiple names for the same student)
• SASID (ensure that SASID is listed, rather than district ID or other temporary number)
• School
• Birth date
• Enrolled grade
• Accommodations (correct missing or incorrect accommodations)
• "Do Not Score" codes (add as appropriate or remove codes incorrectly applied)

Also ensure that any changes are corrected in your June SIMS report.

An email from DRC to ACCESS Test Coordinators was sent on May 17 containing instructions for correcting the above information.

ACCESS Score Reports in Security Portal DropBox and Edwin

District- and school-level student results (post-data validation) will be available in Security Portal DropBoxes and in Edwin over the summer. Results will be made available in:

• DropBox — without Student Growth Percentile on ACCESS (SGPA), progress indicator, attainment, or 2023 targets (late June).
• DropBox — with Student Growth Percentile on ACCESS (SGPA), progress indicator, attainment, 2023 targets (late July).
• Edwin — without Student Growth Percentile on ACCESS (SGPA), progress indicator, attainment, 2023 targets (early July).
• Edwin — with Student Growth Percentile on ACCESS (SGPA), progress indicator, attainment, 2023 targets available in early August.

Additional information regarding ACCESS for ELLs reporting can be found on the Massachusetts state page of the WIDA website under Manuals, Guides and Workshops in the ACCESS for ELLs Reporting Workshop — May 2022 Powerpoint presentation.

2023 ACCESS Testing Window

Thank you for participating in the ACCESS 2023 Testing Window Survey. Results were analyzed and a determination was made to schedule the 2023 testing window for January 5 – February 10, 2023.

Reminder: WIDA Will Retire the K W-APT in June 2022

On June 30, 2022, all K W-APT materials will be removed from the WIDA Secure Portal and support will also no longer be available. Districts may use the K W-APT between July 1, 2022 – January 1, 2023, but must first download the files of K W-APT materials from the WIDA Secure Portal before June 30. Be aware that the K W-APT will only be authorized to screen Massachusetts students until January 1, 2023, after which districts will be required to use the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten for their incoming kindergarten and first-semester grade 1 students. More details will be provided later this spring.

The WIDA Screener for Kindergarten (i.e., the "K Screener") has been available for use by districts since March 1 and staff must be trained and certified in its administration. Please continue to prepare your staff for the transition to the K Screener. K Screener training modules and certification quizzes are available in the WIDA Secure Portal.

Proficiency "cut scores" for the K Screener (and modified "cut scores" for K MODEL) were announced in the February 16 EL Assessment Update, as well as in the Initial Identification of ELs publication on the Department's English Learner Education web page.

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 information.