In early 2011, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Educational Research to obtain a new English language proficiency assessment. The test, Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) is a product of the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment Consortium (WIDA).
ACCESS for ELLs is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment for students who have been identified as English Learners (ELs). ACCESS for ELLs is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards and assesses each of the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Alaska has adopted the 2007 WIDA ELD Standards (Alaska Regulation 4 AAC 04.155). ACCESS for ELLs is given annually in WIDA Consortium member states to monitor student’s progress in acquiring academic English. ACCESS for ELLs must be administered to all identified ELs in the State of Alaska anytime during the test administration window of February 1 – March 31 (Alaska Regulation 4 AAC 34.055(c)).
Email help@wida.us or call 1-866-276-7735
Contact WIDA with questions about:
Email WIDA@datarecognitioncorp.com or call 1-855-787-9615
Contact DRC for questions about:
Manuals, guides, and training materials are available to download from the WIDA Secure Portal. There you will find items such as:
Student supports are available for students taking the computer- and paper-based English Language Proficiency Assessment. Universal tools are supports or preferences that are available to all students. Accommodations are practices and procedures that provide equitable access and are used regularly and with success during instruction and assessments. Accommodations must be made available to students with disabilities with an IEP or 504 plan, students with transitory impairments, and EL students, as documented in student plans. Additional information can be found on the Accommodations webpage.
ACCESS for ELLs Scores and Reports - Resources to help educators understand student scores
Interpretive Guide for Score Reports - a comprehensive document explaining the types of scores reported for students in Grades K-12 who take ACCESS for ELLs assessments.
Alternate ACCESS Scores and Reports
WIDA Partners - WIDA works with multiple organizations that provide contracted development and support services to WIDA and its consortium members.
WIDA publishes a technical report following the administration of each of the ACCESS assessments. This technical report is available upon request.
In Summer 2021, Alaska finalized alternate scoring procedures to calculate an overall composite proficiency level (CPL) for English learners (ELs) with a disability whose disability precludes their assessment in one or more domain on WIDA’s ACCESS for ELLs®. The calculation of the CPL allows the student to be considered for exit from EL status, as well as be included in calculations for growth on the EL Progress Indicator of our statewide accountability system, the System for School Success. For more information, view the documents listed below.
ACCESS for ELLs test window February 1 - March 31