The ACCESS test (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) measures students' levels of English proficiency in the domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. The ACCESS assesses students comprehension and ability to use the language of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies as well as social and instructional language. This assessment is used from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
All schools in the United States are required to measure EL students language growth each year to ensure that they are making adequate progress. The scores from the ACCESS testing highlight the students areas of strength and indicate areas where the student needs to make growth. The teachers use the student's areas of need to help guide instruction to increase the student's proficiency and academic achievement. These scores also indicate the level of students English proficiencies in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These proficiency levels help teachers better understand how much English a particular student knows. Teachers can also use the Can-Do indicators to help guide them on how they can adapt assignments to be more appropriate given a students level of English knowledge. More information about the ACCESS test can be found at the WIDA website:www.wida.us/assessment/ACCESS20.aspx |
Proficiency Levels
The W-APT and ACCESS test are used to determine students' proficiency levels. The W-APT is used when students first enter a school district to determine their level of English knowledge. The ACCESS test is used to measure growth in the student's proficiency each December to ensure that they are making progress and to determine if they will need ESL services the following year. WIDA, the organization that designs the W-APT and ACCESS test, has divided EL students into 6 different proficiency levels. Entering (Level 1), Emerging (Level 2), Developing (Level 3), Expanding (Level 4), Bridging (Level 5), and Reaching (Level 6). Explanations of the abilities of students at each proficiency level are available from the WIDA website under 2012 ELD standards: |
Can-Do Indicators
The Can-Do Indicators were designed by WIDA to help give teachers an idea of what students of different proficiency levels can do in the classroom. These booklets give examples of tasks that are appropriate for students of each proficiency level. The Can-Do indicators can help give teachers ideas of ways to adapt classroom assignments for students of different proficiency level The Can-Do Indicators can be downloaded from the WIDA website at: http://www.wida.us/standards/CAN_DOs/ |