ACCESS for ELLs® Training 2014-2015

December 16, 2014

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WIDA Assessment Webinars

WIDA has developed common webinars on assessment topics that were delivered by consultants in previous years.

– Ensures consistency of messages about assessments

– Outreach to all states

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• For 2014-15, paper-based form 303, will be administered.

• Should Georgia elect to continue with ACCESS after the current school year, ACCESS for ELLs 2.0, computer-based test, is scheduled to be operational in 2015-16. At that time, two paper-based forms will be maintained as static forms for use with students with specified disabilities. WIDA’s current plan is to continue a refreshment cycle for ACCESS 2.0 that is similar to the current test. That is, WIDA plans to refresh approximately 25-35 percent of the test each year.

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• WIDA plans to revise the kindergarten ACCESS test within the next few years, but has shared with State Education Agencies that the Consortium has neither a specific plan nor funding to do so at this time.

• Alternate ACCESS for grades 1-12 will continue as is into the foreseeable future.

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WIDA Assessment Webinars

The WIDA-created webinars cover the following topics:

• Grade 1-12 ACCESS for ELLs

• Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs

• Tier Placement Tutorial

The webinars are accessible in the WIDA Download library (http://wida.us/downloadLibrary.aspx), in the ACCESS for ELLs section.

Viewers will need to log in using their username and password for their ACCESS training account.

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Locating the Webinars www.wida.us

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• Make sure you

are logged in

• Go to the

Download

Library

• Look under

“ACCESS for

ELLs”

• Click on “More”

to expand the list

• All webinars are

in FLASH

Reminder: Reading Test Timing Last year, the extra time provided in the Reading test was extended from five minutes to ten minutes. This change is still effective this year. The directions read:

• The Reading Test is designed to take no more than 35-45 minutes. In rare situations, test administrators may use their professional judgment in determining whether a student(s) needs additional time to complete the test.

The test administration time does not include time for convening students, taking attendance, distributing and collecting test materials, explaining test directions, or completing practice items.

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Listening Test- Technology Requirements

• CD Player or

• Desktop or laptop computer (if playing the CD on the computer or streaming audio from the Internet)

• Speakers (Do not use headphones to administer the Listening Field Test)

The Listening Test CD can be played on a CD player, or on a desktop or laptop computer. If a computer is used to play the Listening Test CD during the test administration, make sure that the computer is hooked up to working external speakers and meets the minimal technological requirements listed in the table on the following page.

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Minimal Technical Requirements for Playing an

Audio CD on a Computer

Internet Provider Type

• DSL

• Cable

• Fiber Optic (FiOS)

• Satellite • WiFi hotspot with adequate

bandwidth (this can vary depending on the number of users and is not recommended as a first choice for Internet connection.)

Hardware Requirements • 500 NHz processor, AMD, Intel, Via

• Windows XP or later for PCs

• OS X or later, Linux 7 or later for Macs

• 128 MB of RAM or more

• Supported audio device — onboard or add-in audio card

• Wired or wireless network connection

• External speakers

• Browser of a dedicated software player, such as VLC, Quicktime, WMP, etc.

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WIDA Password Change Process

WIDA will no longer have access to passwords. If someone forgets the password to their account, the WIDA Help Desk can send a link to reset the password.

• If you need to update any of your personal information, such as your password, school, or district, please login to the training course and enter your updates under "My Account Info" in the gray column on the main menu page.

• To sign in to the training course, please visit www.wida.us.

• If you have any questions please contact the WIDA Help Desk, 866-276-7735 or help@wida.us.

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Identification of ELs

Entry/ Exit Guidance

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Who must be scheduled for ACCESS for ELLs® ?

1. All students designated as “EL-Y” must take the ACCESS assessment

2. Any student who enters the district during the ACCESS testing window and is identified as EL must be administered ACCESS.

“EL-M” students should NOT be administered

the ACCESS for ELLs® assessment!!

GaDOE 12

Who may administer ACCESS for ELLs®?

GaDOE

Two requirements must be met:

1. Hold a Georgia Professional Standards

Commission Certificate and

2. Annually pass the WIDA on-line ACCESS for

ELLs® certification with passing score of 80% or

higher on modules TA will be administering.

GaDOE

Kindergarten W-APT®

Identification Eligibility for Language Assistance Services for

ELs

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GaDOE

K- 12 MODEL® Identification Eligibility for Language Assistance Services for ELs

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GaDOE

Grades 1-12th W-

APT Eligibility

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Information and Flow Charts for Eligibility and Exit Criteria for Language Assistance Services may be found in the 2014-2015 ESOL Resource Guide and on the GaDOE ESOL & Title III webpage at:

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/English-to-Speakers-of-Other-Languages-(ESOL)-and-Title-III.aspx

GaDOE

Tier Structure of ACCESS for ELLs®

ENTERING EMERGING DEVELOPING EXPANDING BRIDGING

1 2 3 4 5

Tier A Tier B

Tier C

6

R

E

A

C

H

I

N

G Grades 1-12

K – Adaptive

GaDOE 18

• The three overlapping tiers of the ACCESS for ELLs® test are designed to create tests whose

items span a range of difficulty within the range of proficiency of an individual student taking the

test. The intention is to present items to the student that are neither too easy nor too difficult and

that collectively pinpoint his or her true ELP level. It is expected that the majority of students will

receive the Tier B form of the test. Tier A is intended for very low proficiency students and Tier C

for students close to reaching full English language proficiency.

• Note: the highest score a student may receive in Listening and Reading in Tier A is 4.0 and in Tier

B is 5.0. The next slide explains why it is so important to assign tiers appropriately. No matter

what tier (A, B, or C), students may receive a high score of 6.0 because these are scored by a

rubric (Speaking and Writing). But the Listening and Reading scores reveal if the student took the

appropriate tier.

Tier A Placement Criteria

For ELs who:

• have arrived in the U. S. or entered school in the U. S. within this academic school year without previous instruction in English;

• have recently tested at the lowest level of English language proficiency.

GaDOE 19

Level 2 is now EMERGING not BEGINNING.

Tier B Placement Criteria

For ELs who:

• have social language proficiency and some, but not extensive, academic language proficiency in English; and/or

• have acquired some literacy in English, though have not yet reached grade-level literacy.

Note: The majority of ELs will be administered Tier B

GaDOE 20

Tier C Placement Criteria

For ELs who:

• are approaching grade level literacy and academic language proficiency in the core content areas; and/or

• will likely meet the state's exit criteria for support services by the end of the academic year.

In Georgia, most students will exit using Tier C.

GaDOE 21

GaDOE

Tier Placement Summary

• Follow Criteria for Tier Placement at www.wida.us)

• Use previous test scores (W-APT and ACCESS)

• Use teacher judgment – collaborate with general education teacher

• If in doubt, place the student in the higher tier

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If the label is incorrect, discard the label and bubble in the student information on the front and back covers of the test booklet

Pre-ID labels that are incorrect or provided for students who will not be tested may be discarded

Do not cross out or write in information on a Pre-ID label: this does not change any data and causes misinformation when tabulating your students’ information

Reminder: Pre-ID Labels

GaDOE 23

If a label has been placed on a test booklet in error: put an “X” through the demographic information and mark through the bar code, covering it completely using a heavy black marker

Reminder: Pre-ID Labels

GaDOE 24

Detailed directions to assist you in filling out the student information on test booklets are on pp. 19-23 of the Test Administration Manual.

Reminder: Marking Booklets

GaDOE 25

Reminders and Accommodations

• Remember, test accommodations are only available to students with disabilities (IEP or 504 Plan in place).

• For GaDOE approved Accommodations, refer to Student Assessment Handbook 2014-2015, Accommodations Table 4.

GaDOE 26

• The 2014-2015 District and School Test Administration Manual (TAM), Form 303 has specific instructions and suggestions for administering the test.

• Materials Handling for schools is discussed on pages 5-17.

• Test Scheduling and Coordination Information is on pages 33-39.

• Test Accommodation Information is on pages 43-49.

• Speaking Test Administration Information begins on page 66.

Test Administration Guidelines

GaDOE 27

GaDOE

Reminder: Annual Recertification! Test Administrators and the Online Course:

• Do training in own time

• Refer back many times if necessary

• Access sample items

• Access sound files and scoring rationale to calibrate Speaking ratings

• Download and print Test Administration Manual (TAM)

• Take quizzes for certification (80% is pass)

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Reminder: Recommendation…

GaDOE

Prior to ACCESS for ELLs® test

administration, share with ELs:

1.Their last ELP levels (ACCESS or

W-APT) to aid in setting purpose for

the test, and

2.Sample “Retired” ACCESS for

ELLs® items to familiarize ELs to

testing format. (Download from the

WIDA website: http://www.wida.us/assessment/ACCESS/)

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Examiners/ Test Administrators Next Steps

• Study TAM*

• Watch the Kindergarten training video*

• Practice Speaking on-line samples*

• Review Writing samples online and in TAM

• Take on-line quizzes for TA certification*

• Practice entire test administration with materials. (Districts will receive materials from MetriTech one week prior to opening of testing window.)

• Remember must group by Tier and Grade Level Cluster!

* Password protected on the WIDA website

GaDOE 30

The Alternate ACCESS

GaDOE 31

Continue to code

“SPD” for ELs, who

cannot take one or

more domains due to

their disability.

Who should take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLS?

• Only ELs with significant cognitive disabilities. Typically includes students who have one or more of the existing categories of disabilities under IDEA (e.g.; intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, etc.).

• Students with significant cognitive disabilities may be assessed via an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards. The US Department of Education defines an alternate achievement standard as one that “sets an expectation of performance that differs in complexity from a grade-level achievement standard.” Alternate achievement standards must be aligned to state academic content standards, although they may reflect prerequisite or entry-level skills.

• Students with disabilities who can be served with accommodations on the regular ACCESS for ELLs assessment should continue to participate in that assessment, NOT Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.

GaDOE 34

Georgia Participation Criteria

1. The student has been classified as an EL.

2. The student has been classified as a special education student and is receiving special education services.

3. The student has a significant cognitive disability.

4. The student participates in the Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA).

Importantly, students shall not be administered both the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs and the ACCESS for ELLs.

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Georgia Test Examiners

It is recommended that the examiner be an educator who is familiar with the student and their special needs – and with whom the student feels comfortable.

As with the “general” ACCESS for ELLs, all Examiners are required to complete a WIDA online course (that is specific to the Alternate ACCESS) and earn a qualifying score to administer the assessment.

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Georgia Accommodations

• Always defer to GaDOE’s accommodation policies for language proficiency.

• The Alternate ACCESS TAM provides only recommendations on accommodations.

• The Student Assessment Handbook, 2014-2015 Allowable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

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GaDOE Assessment Resources

The Student Assessment Handbook, 2014-2015 is located on the

GaDOE website Assessment Page in the ‘For Educators’ portlet.

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/default.aspx

• Participation of EL Students in State Assessments, pages 130-133.

• Additional Considerations for Accommodations, pages 133-137.

• Allowable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, pages 140-142.

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GaDOE

Receipt of Materials

Alternate ACCESS test materials will have unique serial numbers

assigned to the district/school and must be returned at the close of the

test window.

Alternate ACCESS test materials will have their own paperwork mirroring

the paperwork for the ACCESS for ELLs materials.

There is a separate set of materials for the Alternate

ACCESS.

Each school will have its own plastic bag which contains the following:

School Materials List – one for each school

School Header Sheet

Unused & Non Scorable Header Sheet

Internal Tracking Security Checklist

District & School Test Administration Manual

Schedule & Special Instructions for Your State

Pre-ID Header (if District has provided Pre-ID data)

Pre-ID Labels – sorted by grade, then alpha by student last name, first name, MI, birth date

Receipt of Materials

School Bag(s):

GaDOE

School’s Pre-ID Labels

Receipt of Materials

School Bag(s):

GaDOE

Schools must follow the same security guidelines in place for all state-mandated secure assessments – you must confirm that your school has received all assigned serial bar coded test materials

TEST SECURITY

GaDOE

Once testing is completed, each school should package their materials as directed and return them to the STC– checking to ensure all serial numbered materials assigned are accounted for.

Materials Return

GaDOE