Background
What is the ACCESS for ELLs™?
ACCESS for ELLs™ is a standards-based, criterion referenced
English language proficiency test designed to measure English
language learners’ social and academic proficiency in English.
It assesses social and instructional English as well as the language
associated with language arts, mathematics, science, and social
studies within the school context across the four language domains.
Why is an English Language Proficiency test
required?
An English Language Proficiency test is required under No Child
Left Behind legislation. Passed in 2001, NCLB indicates that all
K-12 English language learners must be assessed annually for English
proficiency growth (Title III) and academic progress (Title I).
School districts receiving Title III grant resources will be held
accountable under the Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives
(AMAOs) provision of NCLB. Last the Illinois Administrative Code,
Part 228, Section 228.15(f) indicates districts shall administer
an individual language proficiency assessment to each student
identified through the home language survey. This assessment shall
take place within four weeks of the student's enrollment in the
district, for the purpose of determining the student's eligibility
for bilingual education services.
Who
needs to take ACCESS for ELLs™ ?
How do you know if a student enrolling in your district is Limited
English Proficient (LEP) also called an English Language Learner
(ELL) and is eligible for language support services? (Re-published
on 11/22/06 from the October
16, 2006 Superintendent’s Bulletin)
Follow these steps:
- Administer a Home Language Survey to
ALL students (in Pre-K through 12th grades) newly registering
in your district.
(Sample Home Language Surveys are available in English and twenty
nine others languages
-
Assess the English language proficiency of all students whose parents
answered “yes” to one or both of the Home Language
Survey questions, “Is a language other than English spoken
in the home?’ and “Does the student speak a language
other than English?”
Pre-K and Kindergarten students take the Kindergarten WAPT. For
Pre-K and Kindergarten raw scores determine English language “proficiency.” To
determine whether a Pre-K
or Kindergarten student is LEP, see our flowchart for guidance.
Students in grades 1-12 take the W-APT Screener. To determine
whether a student in grades
1-12 is LEP, see our flowchart for guidance.
Students who score below a composite 4.0 on the W-APT
screener are considered Limited English Proficient (LEP) and are eligible
for language support services.
Students who achieve a composite score of 4.0 or above on the
W-APT are considered “English language proficient.” (However,
the district has the discretion of using additional indicators,
e.g., other tests, to determine whether the student is LEP based
upon the district’s established criteria.)
If a student is determined to be limited English proficient (LEP),
the district informs parents in writing of the results of the assessment
and the program placement recommendations, describing the services
that are available to assist the student become English language
proficient. Sample parent notification letters are available in
English and twenty-nine other languages.
To refuse language support services parents must provide the district
with a signed, written statement that they are refusing services.
However, this parental statement does not relinquish the district
from its obligation to provide a meaningful education to the student.
Districts are required to:
- continue to assess annually all identified LEP students
using the ACCESS for ELLs™ assessment until the student
tests as English language proficient.
- annually report
its number of identified LEP students on the Fall Housing Report,
including identified LEP students whose
parents have refused services, to the Data Analysis and Progress
Reporting Division. Districts seeking assistance in completing
this portion of the Fall Housing Report should contact Jim Sweeney
at 217-782-3950.
- provide services as required for the individual student’s
needs and as determined by the types of programs provided by the
district.
- annually assess the English language proficiency of all
identified LEP students. Students who obtain a composite score
of 4.0 (Tier A, B or C) or above on the annually administered state
approved English Language Proficiency test, ACCESS for ELLs™, are to be considered English
• “Proficient.” However, the district again has the discretion
of using additional indicators, to determine whether the student
is English Language Proficient, based upon the district’s established
criteria.
Districts with additional questions regarding the etermination
of English language proficiency, are encouraged to call the Division
of English Language Learning at 312-814-3850.
When
do students take ACCESS for ELLs™? 
The speaking and kindergarten portions of ACCESS will be administered
January 16 - February 23, 2007. The reading, writing, and listening
portions of ACCESS wil be administered from January 16 - February
7, 2007. Individually administered tests (kindergarten and speaking)
can be given anytime during the testing window.
Must all schools give the ACCESS for ELLs™?
All Illinois public schools, including Charter schools,
are required to identify and assess limited English Proficient
students (LEPs). The WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT) is downloadable
and free to all Illinois public schools. The secure full-scale
ACCESS for ELLs™ assessment will be distributed at no cost
to these schools.
Illinois private schools may use the ACCESS Screener (WIDA
ACCESS Placement Test or W-APT) for free to assess the English
language proficiency of potentially limited English proficient
students. Schools should seek training as certification is required
to administer this identification and placement assessment.
Private schools are NOT required to use ACCESS for ELLs™
as recipients of Federal Title III program services. However,
private schools seeking Title III program services, through their
Local Educational Agency (LEA), must demonstrate that the English
language proficiency of all students they report to their LEAs
is assessed annually and that each student is limited English
proficient. Private schools can accomplish this by using the WIDA
ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT Screener)* available free of charge
at this website. Private school staff administering the screener
must be trained to administer and score the W-APT.
The secure ACCESS for ELLs™ is also currently available
for private schools within the WIDA Consortium member states.
Only private schools that agree to abide by confidentiality policies
and security will be granted permission to order booklets at their
own expense directly from MetriTech. Private schools interested
in ordering materials should call Tim Boals at 608-267-1290.
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