The ACCESS testing window for Fulton County is January 19 - March 2.
ACCESS 2.0
In 2015-16, Georgia will begin administration of a newly developed ACCESS for ELLs (ACCESS 2.0) summative assessment. The new program will include an online mode for test administration that will replace the former paper-based version of the ACCESS for ELLs for Grades 1-12. A paper-based assessment will continue to be available for students who may have a disability that requires paper-based testing. Please note that there will be no changes, in mode or otherwise, to the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs in 2015-16. Kindergarten will also continue to be paper-based in 2015-16. The online test will be assessed using the following new clusters: Grade 1, Grades 2-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. The writing domain in grades 1-5 will continue to administered on paper. The online test is a staged, adaptive test, meaning students will progress through the test based on their performance. |
ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment given to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs). It is given annually in WIDA Consortium member states to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English.
ACCESS for ELLs test items are written from the model performance indicators of WIDA's five English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards:
Each form of the test assesses the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. |
Purpose and Use of ACCESS for ELLs:
- Generates results that serve as one criterion to aid in determining when ELLs have attained the language proficiency needed to participate meaningfully in content area classrooms without program support and on state academic content tests without accommodations.
- Identifies the ELP levels of students with respect to the WIDA ELP Standards' levels 1-6.
- Provides information that can be used to enhance instruction and learning for ELLs.