WIDA: ACCESS for ELLs (February 1 - February 17)

It is time again for the annual administration of the ACCESS for ELLs test  (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners). This test is used to:

• Monitor student progress on an annual basis
• Establish when ELLs have attained English language proficiency according to state criteria
• Inform classroom instruction and assessment
• Aid in programmatic decision-making

With the exception of kindergarten students, the test is administered in three different sessions. These sessions are reading/listening, writing, and speaking. The reading/listening and writing portions of the test are given in group settings, while the speaking test is administered one-on-one to each student. The kindergarten test is usually administered in one session which includes all four language domains. Kindergarten students are tested individually in a one-on-one setting.