1. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Pre-Administration Training 2017 – 2018
November 16, 2017
Deborah Houston
Assessment Specialist
Georgia Department of Education
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2. Agenda This session is intended to supplement the various training modules and sessions provided by WIDA & DRC – and to provide Georgia-specific information where applicable.
Who should be tested? Who should not be tested? Who can administer the test?
Important Training Reminders
Language Services Identification, Eligibility, and Exit Criteria
Test Administration Reminders and Updates
Ordering
Receipt of Test Materials
Returning Test Materials
Where to Get Help
Question & Answer Time
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3. Who must be scheduled for ACCESS for ELLs 2.0?
All students designated as EL must take the ACCESS assessment.
Any student who enrolls in the district during the ACCESS testing window and is identified as an EL must be administered ACCESS.
EL-M students MUST NOT be administered
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0
DO NOT OVER-ORDER PAPER TEST MATERIALS
Testing an EL-M student = $25.75 billed to your district
If a student has exited the ESOL program or an alternative language assistance program, in the past four years, that student shall be coded EL-M for statewide assessments. Coding for EL-M shall occur in the Student Record Collection and on the student’s answer document. Individual needs of EL-M students may warrant a maximum of two years of receiving standard accommodations after exiting ESOL. These accommodations shall be determined by documentation of the English Learner Testing Participation Committee (EL-TPC). Accommodations must be consistent with current instructional and classroom accommodations. Only state-approved standard accommodations may be considered and included in the EL-TPC plan; EL-M students are not eligible for conditional accommodations. At the end of the first two years of the four-year monitoring period, EL-M students shall participate in the assessment program without accommodations.
NOTE: For and beyond (ESSA implementation): Students who have exited the ESOL program, or an alternative language assistance program, in the past four years shall be coded EL-M for accountability purposes.
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4. ESSA EL-M Update
In November 2017, the SBOE adopted an amendment to Rule (Testing Programs – Student Assessment)
The amendment addresses flexibility offered under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for newly arrived English Learners (EL).
Adoption of this policy was recommended by both the ESSA Assessment Working Committee and the Title III/ESOL Advisory Committee.
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5. ESSA EL-M Update Effective immediately:
Newly‐arrived ELs (i.e., those enrolling in a U.S. school for the first time) will participate in all mandated assessments, with appropriate accommodations as needed, during their first year of enrollment.
The scores of newly‐arrived ELs will be removed from all statewide accountability calculations based on coding in state‐required data collections.
During the second and all subsequent years of enrollment, the growth (i.e., progress) made by said students will be included in statewide accountability calculations.
During the third and all subsequent years of enrollment, the achievement (i.e., content mastery) and growth (i.e., progress) made by said students will be included in statewide accountability calculations.
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6. Who Should Administer ACCESS for ELLs 2.0?
Two requirements of Examiner/Test Administrator (TA):
1. Hold a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) Certificate and
2. Annually pass the course(s) and the required “certification” quiz/quizzes you are responsible for administering during Georgia’s assessment window.
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7. IMPORTANT REMINDER: Training Program for ACCESS for ELLs 2.0
This ACCESS for ELLs Pre-Administration webinar is intended to supplement – but not replace – the training modules and overview webinars provided by WIDA.
Viewing the WIDA training course modules will be critically important to a successful ACCESS for ELLs test administration in your district.
Viewing/Review of these materials are a required part of the preparation checklist for test coordinators.
Today’s session will cover high points and Georgia specific information and reminders. Again, this session is not a substitute for WIDA’s preparation materials and resources.
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8. Summary of Training Requirements by Mode/Version
For Paper-Based Grades 1-12, all test administrators (examiners) must complete the tutorial, the course, AND the Paper Administration Quiz along with the appropriate Speaking Quiz, grades 1-5 or 6-12, (80% score or above required).  Georgia requires all test administrators (examiners) to complete training annually.
For Online Grades 1-12, all test administrators (examiners) must complete the tutorial, the course AND the Online Administration Quiz (80% score or above required).  Georgia requires all test administrators (examiners) to complete training annually.
For Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs, Georgia requires test administrators (examiners) to complete the online training course annually.  There is a quiz at the end of the course that requires a score of 80% or above.
For Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, Georgia requires test administrators (examiners) to complete the online training course annually.  There is a quiz at the end of the course that requires a score of 80% or above.  
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9. Kindergarten WIDA K-WAPT 2nd Semester Pre-K to 1st Semester First Grade Eligibility screener for Language Assistance Services for ELs
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10. Kindergarten WIDA MODEL 2nd Semester Pre-K to 1st Semester First Grade
Eligibility screener
for Language Assistance Services for ELs
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11. WIDA Screener 2nd Semester First Grade to
1st Semester Twelfth Grade Eligibility screener
for Language Assistance Services for ELs
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12. 2017 ESOL Exit Criteria
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13. Additional information and flow charts for Eligibility and Exit Criteria for Language Assistance Services may be found in the ESOL Resource Guide and on the GaDOE ESOL & Title III webpage at:
Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/English-to-Speakers-of- Other-Languages-(ESOL)-and-Title-III.aspx
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14. Test Administration Reminders & Updates
Important Dates
ACCESS for ELLs Administration Dates ( )
Description
Start Date
End Date
Test Materials Ordering
10/12/2017
11/30/2017
Pre-ID Files from Local Systems to Data Recognition Corporation (DRC)
Online Test Setup Available
12/7/2017
3/2/2018
Test Materials Arrive
1/5/2018
Georgia’s ACCESS for ELLs State Testing Window
1/16/2018
Additional Test Material Window
2/23/2018
Deadline for Shipping Completed/Used Materials to DRC
3/9/2018
Deadline for Shipping Unused Materials to DRC
Pre-Reporting Data Validation Window –LEAS in AMS
4/2/2018
4/13/2018
Districts Receive Reports - Printed and Online (On or Before)
5/11/2018
Post-Reporting Data Validation Window- LEAs in AMS
5/22/2018
Final Data file from DRC to GaDOE
6/8/2018
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15. GaDOE and WIDA Training Reminders
December 6 – 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: Administration
December 12 – 12:00pm-1:00pm ET
During Testing: Managing Test Sessions (Online)
December 13 – 3:00pm-4:00pm ET
During Testing: Managing Students (Paper)
December 14 – 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
During Testing: Technology Troubleshooting
January 4 – 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
Pre-Testing: Technology Coordinator Support for Test Administration
January 18 – 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
February 7 – 12:00pm-1:00pm ET
During Testing: Monitoring completion (Online)
February 27 – 12:00pm-1:00pm ET
Post-Testing: Data Validation
www. wida.us> Training & Preparation:
During-testing and post-testing webinars continue through June 2018!
Additional GaDOE SESSIONS>> December 12, Accommodations/Accessibility Tools Question & Answer and
January 10, Pre-Administration Question & Answer (registration link will be sent to K12 Assessment Directors in December)
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16. Test Administration Reminders & Updates
A paper-based assessment continues to be available for students who have a disability that requires paper-based testing. Paper is also be available for systems/schools that are unable to move fully online in
Paper-pencil orders MUST be completed by November 30, 2017 in the WIDA AMS – no exceptions. The window cannot be extended.
Paper-pencil orders REQUIRE Tier Placement.
Note that November 30th is also the due date for district Pre-ID files to be uploaded to WIDA/DRC via the WIDA AMS.
INSIGHT SOFTWARE & TESTING SITE MANAGER (TSM) FOR ACCESS 2.0
The same INSIGHT test engine download used for Georgia Milestones can also be used for WIDA’s ACCESS 2.0 assessment.
 *** Importantly, the TSM versions for Georgia Milestones & ACCESS 2.0 are NOT THE SAME ***
The ACCESS 2.0 TSM download was released by WIDA on November 2, 2017.
The Technology User Guide for ACCESS 2.0 is located at: 
Technology Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs can be found at: 
Reminder: Schools that use Thin Client/Virtualization solutions need to plan to administer ACCESS for ELLs via paper (or on non-Thin Client hardware if available) as audio (the Listening test) delivery support is not ensured for Thin Clients.
WIDA DRC Customer Service (relative to ACCESS) can be reached at (855) ;

17. Remember . . .
In , Georgia’s districts administered 75% of all ACCESS for ELLs tests online! (Thank you!)
Ideally, Georgia will reach 90% online testing in
This goal is across all ACCESS test administrations in your district – across all grades.
Decisions on your online vs. paper-based testing numbers must be confirmed prior to your entry of paper and online enrollment counts in the WIDA AMS.
Over-ordering of paper test materials must be avoided or your district will incur a fee that will be charged in May 2018 for the return of an excess number of unused paper materials.
However, you cannot assume that you can order large volumes of paper-based materials once the window opens.
Now is the time have the necessary internal conversations to complete your enrollment counts correctly.
Failure to submit a Pre-ID file to DRC will result in your district:
1) not receiving labels for paper testing
2) not having students loaded for online testing
Districts are encouraged to test the number of students online that the district can comfortably support. if it’s less than 80% or even a little less than last year then we can work with that. 
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18. New for !
WIDA will distribute more paper materials than in the past to ensure sites have all the materials they need.
Overage will increase from 10% to 15% for each district.
District/STC (not School Test Coordinators) will place all additional materials orders (AMOs) to streamline the process, facilitate management and use of overage provided.
In most cases, DRC will ship AMOs to district addresses rather than to school sites.
The number of Grades 1–5 writing test booklets provided for students taking ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Online will increase, along with other high demand materials such as labels (District/School, DRC return, UPS return shipping).
While it may appear more wasteful to ship more material than needed, increasing overage is more cost effective than additional shipments.
Last, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs materials will be shipped in the same box as ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 wherever possible to reduce the number of boxes sent.
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19. Test Administration Reminders & Updates
Students’ performance on the online Listening and Reading tests will determine their placement for Speaking and Writing.
WIDA recommends that students take the Listening and Reading test. The Writing and Speaking should be administered third and forth, in this specific order .
The domains may be administered across multiple days in the manner that best works for scheduling purposes and the use of technology.
However, a single domain may not be broken into separate administrations.
The online platform will not have a limit on the number of students who can test at one time.
For Speaking, it is recommended that groups of 5-7 students (or fewer) test simultaneously so that headset microphones do not capture other voices. Students of different grades may test in the same room at the same time – though it would be wise to consider the needs of the involved students before taking this approach.
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20. Test Administration Reminders & Updates: Paper vs. Online
In grades 1-3, on the Writing test, a student testing online will see and respond to the Writing test on paper. All writing in grades 1-3 is completed on paper, in full.
In grades 4-12, on the Writing test, a student is either an online test-taker or a paper-based test-taker. The modes of testing cannot be “mixed” for a student.
In grades 4 and 5, an online test-taker will see the Writing test on screen and will handwrite response in a paper book. Paper booklets for online grade 4 and 5 students will arrive in LEA shipments in January based upon your enrollment count numbers entered in the WIDA AMS in November.
No grades 6-12 Writing Response books will be sent in the initial shipment. If those books are needed, an order will need to be placed during Georgia’s materials ordering window that closes on November 30th.
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21. Test Administration Reminders & Updates
WIDA requires examiners/TAs to become “certified” by attending tutorials, completing online training, and passing quizzes with a score of 80% or higher.
The tutorials and online courses became available in September 2017.
The courses necessary will vary based upon the domains the examiner is administering:
Kindergarten (Paper-based only)
Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (Paper-based only)
Grades 1-12 (via Online) or,
Grades 1-12 (via Paper).
Closely monitor the number of English Learners (ELs) in your systems to ensure an accurate order of any paper materials your system may require. Systems will be invoiced for excessive paper-pencil orders that result in the return of unused materials.
Alternate ACCESS is unchanged for
The state testing window for ACCESS is seven-weeks in length –systems may utilize the entire window as needed. The windows for ACCESS for ELLs and the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs are the same.
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22. Online Administration: Accessibility Tools (Available to All ELs)
Accessibility tools are available to all ELs taking ACCESS for ELLs 2.0,and may either be embedded in the online test or provided to ELs by Test Administrators (Examiners) for online or paper tests.
Accessibility tools do not need to be pre-selected for online testing via the student’s online record in the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS). They will be provided for all online test-takers (see next slide).
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23. Online Administration: Accessibility Tools (Available to All)
Highlighter Tool
Line Guide
Screen Magnifier (1.5x or 2.0x)
Sticky Notes
Color Contrasts
Color Overlay
Keyboard Shortcuts/equivalents
You (and your students) may already be familiar with these tools from the Georgia Milestones Experience Online Testing Georgia public site and/or the Georgia Milestones Secure Practice Tests (currently available for the Winter 2017 EOC).
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24. Other important Notes about Training
To enter the WIDA website, where the tutorials, online course(s), and quizzes reside, educators will use the unique WIDA user name and password that STC create for them (or that they were assigned in a previous year).
The course(s) and quizzes are provided for educators to complete, individually, at their own pace.  The course(s), and the required “certification” quiz/quizzes should be completed individually.  These are not to be completed as a group activity.
The online course(s) and quizzes may take as little as 2 hours or as long as 6 hours (for first-time test-takers) to complete.
Educators in Georgia school districts are REQUIRED to complete their training requirements prior to administering the assessment during the state’s testing window that is open from January 16 through March 2, 2018. 
As a System Test Coordinator, you can log on to to monitor quiz results for each examiner who will be administering ACCESS for ELLs in 2018.
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25. WIDA DRC Customer Service
No ELs in your System?
Attend to the Security and Confidentiality Agreement, change password, and activate permissions, then enter 0 for online and paper materials ordered.
WIDA DRC advises to log in and chose 0, just in case a student enrolls or transfers to the district during the open window.
NOTE: If pre-ID data is uploaded, materials will be shipped to your system even if zero counts are entered.
WIDA DRC Customer Service
If a system does not place an order for any of their schools (due to -0- EL enrollment), the system and schools will not receive materials. However, if a pre-ID file is uploaded, materials will be shipped to your system, even if -0- counts are entered.
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26. WIDA AMS Pre-ID and Paper- Based Materials Ordering & Pre-ID File Submission
Georgia’s window opened on October 12, 2017 and closes November 30, This window cannot be extended.
Both tasks should be completed in the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS).
The Pre-ID File layout is posted on the WIDA AMS site. 
Prior to submission, send an to to inform that pre-ID file for ‘Georgia: System Name/System Code’ is on its way.
Check for red or green error messages after the pre-ID file has been submitted.
PLEASE DO NOT OVER ORDER PAPER TEST MATERIALS
If you return an excessive amount of unused paper test materials at the end of the testing window, your district will be billed an overage fee.
Remember that Tier Placements ARE REQUIRED for paper-based orders.
The guidance for tier placements remains unchanged from previous years.
You will need to determine your number of online test-takers and your number of paper-based test takers.
Remember, Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS are not changing this year and remain paper-based in all cases.
As a reminder, orders for Braille forms will not be accepted for Georgia in WIDA AMS.
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27. Primary Language Codes
Reference the Special Coding Instructions, page 3.
Assessment/Assessment/Pages/ACCESS-for-ELLs.aspx
For example, the code for Spanish is still ‘26’. Please enter ‘0026’.
The Special Coding Instructions (goldenrod sheet) will be available, soon!
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28. Returning Materials
All used and unused test materials, including Alternate ACCESS for ELLs materials, must be returned to DRC by March 9, Designated staff should pack and return the test materials to DRC in the boxes in which they were originally shipped. More detailed information on returning materials is available in the Test Administration Manual (TAM).
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29. Important Note: Manuals
Manuals may be:
Printed/copied (see note on left that appears in the TAMs).
Or to “go green”:
Saved to the Desktop of test administrators (examiners) for use during testing.
Opened from the WIDA website for use during test administration.
Each System will receive:
16 - Test Administrator Manuals (TAMs)
5 - School Test Coordinator Manuals (TCMs)
Each School will receive:
1 - TAM/20 students, plus 5% overage
1 - TCM per school; no overages
If a system does not place an order for any of their schools (due to -0- EL enrollment), the system and schools will not receive materials. However, if a pre-ID file is uploaded, materials will be shipped to your system, even if -0- counts are entered.
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30. Questions or Comments? State Contact:
For questions specific to Georgia’s ACCESS for ELLs® test administration
contact Deborah Houston, Assessment Division:
(404) or
For questions specific to training on and use of Screener and ESOL support of ELs,
contact Jacqueline Ellis, ESOL:
(404) or
Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) : or
WIDA Client Services Center: or
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 webpage: