MEMORANDUM

TO: All Principals

FROM: Phyllis D. Spencer, Director, Testing

Glenda Harrell, Director,Title III/English as a Second Language

RE: ACCESS for ELLs Testing 2015

DATE:January 9, 2015

Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners(ACCESS for ELLs) is North Carolina's assessment administered in compliance with the federal requirement that all states must provide an annual assessment of English language proficiency. Limited English Proficient (LEP) students are assessed in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing and comprehension in English for all students identified as LEP. During the 2013-14 school year, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) included the administration of the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® test as part of the required statewide testing program for eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities who are also designated as limited English proficient (LEP).This Alternate ACCESS assessment will continue this year.

As we start the newyear and are currently preparing for this year’s ACCESS administrations, please be aware that support for ACCESS for ELLs testing from the (8)ESL office contractors will be limited this year.Below are a few reminders regarding the ACCESS for ELLs assessment to assist you with planning.

  • ACCESS for ELLs is a secure assessment and is subject to the NC Testing Code of Ethics.
  • The ACCESS for ELLs testing window is February 2, 2015 - March 13, 2015.
  • ACCESS for ELLs is given in grades K-12.
  • Parts of the ACCESS for ELLsannual assessment are designed to be given individually while other parts are given in groups no larger than 22.
  • The students who meet the criteria for the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs test have been identified by NCDPI.

Kindergarten:Entire test is individually administered (proctor not required)

Grades 1-12:Speaking Test is individually administered (proctor not required)

Group Test (Reading, Listening, Writing) (proctor required)

LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinator Information

Each school must have a designated LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinator(preferably not the test coordinator). Administering this assessment is not a task that one person can complete on his/her own. It will take a team approach to ensure you have efficient and successful administrations.

  • The LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinatoris required to be trained prior to administering the ACCESS for ELLs assessment.
  • The LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinatormust complete online training before attending the Policy and Procedures training at the Testing Office. The LEP Contact will need to bring the Certificate of Completion that s/he will receive upon completion of the online training to the Testing Office in order to be admitted to the Policy and Procedures training.
  • The LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinatorwill be trained by the Testing and ESL staff using the train the trainer model.
  • The LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinatorwill be responsible for coordinating ACCESS for ELLs testing for your school.
  • The LEP Contact/ACCESS Test Coordinatorwill train test administrators and proctors, collect proof of online training documentation, manage test materials, and maintain test security.

Training Dates

The following ACCESS for ELL training dates were sent out to LEP contacts in November:

Date / Time / Course Name / Code / SRN
1/21/2015 / 9:00AM / ACCESS for ELL Training / EVA2256 / 15225601
1/22/2015 / 9:00AM / ACCESS for ELL Training / EVA2256 / 15225602
1/23/2015 / 9:00AM / ACCESS for ELL Training / EVA2256 / 15225603
1/28/2015 / 9:00AM / ACCESS for ELL Training / EVA2256 / 15225604
1/29/2015 / 1:00PM / ACCESS for ELL Training / EVA2256 / 15225605

Qualifications for Test Administrators and Proctors

Test Administrator:

  • Employed by the school system;
  • Status as a classified (e.g., teacher assistants, or other non teacher roles) or certified school staff member.
  • Retired teachers, if working for the school district as substitute teachers or members of the staff in any capacity, may administer the tests.
  • Contracted tutorial services or agencies are not permitted to administer the test;
  • Status as highly proficient in the English language. The individual’s spokenEnglish must be clearly understandable by all language-minority students during the test administration; and
  • Trained on the state-designated English language proficiency test as a Test Administrator
  • Complete the online training modules for the subtest they will be administering and score 80% on the post assessment
  • Attend a face to face policy and procedure focused training with the school’s LEP Contact

Proctor:

  • Responsible adult volunteers (i.e., age 18 or older and not enrolled as a student in the K–12 public school system)
  • School staff
  • WCPSS school system staff
  • Trained on the state-designated English language proficiency test as a test proctor
  • Must attend face to face proctor training presented by the school’s LEP Contact

Thank you in advance for your teamwork, time, and attention given to your ACCESS for ELLs testing. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Testing Office at 919-856-3788 or .

C: Dr. Todd Wirt, Assistant Superintendent, Academics

Carol L. Jenkins, Senior Director, Testing

Melanie Rhoads, Senior Director, State and Federal Programs

LEP Contacts

Test Coordinators

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