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English Language Proficiency Testing

Published: 1/24/2013 9:11 AM

To meet No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Title III requirements, states are mandated to identify and annually administer a standards-based English language proficiency test to all English Language Learners (ELLs) in grades K-12. 

In order to comply with the NCLB requirement of an annual English Language Proficiency Assessment for ELLs, Kentucky joined the World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium in 2006. The WIDA Consortium’s goal is to provide research based assessments, standards and professional development to its member states. 
WIDA provides Kentucky with a placement test called the W-APT (WIDA ACCESS Placement Test) as well as the annual English Proficiency Assessment of ACCESS (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State) for ELLs. 
 
ACCESS for ELLs
This is an English language assessment tied to the state’s language proficiency standards with varying stages of second language acquisition. It contains social and academic language contexts. For Title III accountability, ACCESS for ELLs measures annual gains in English language proficiency-Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs).

Alternate ACCESS for ELLS®
Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® is an individually administered paper and pencil test. It is available in four grade level clusters: Grades 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. There is not a Kindergarten form. The test allows students to demonstrate their English language proficiency in all four language domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and in four of the five ELP standards (social and instructional language, and the language of language arts, mathematics and science).
Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® is designed for ELLs with significant cognitive disabilities. A student with significant cognitive disabilities is identified as having one or more of the existing categories of disabilities under IDEA (e.g., intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, etc); and their cognitive impairments may prevent them from attaining grade level achievement standards, even with the best instruction. (adapted from U.S. Department of Education: Alternate Achievement Standards of Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities Non Regulatory Guidance, August 2005).
In order to receive meaningful information from the test, it is very important that only students who meet all 3 criteria below participate in the assessment. Other ELs should continue to take the existing ACCESS for ELLs® assessment, with appropriate accommodations as necessary. Participation has to be decided by the student's IEP team.
Participation Criteria:
  • The student has been classified as EL.
  • The student has a significant cognitive disability and is eligible for special education services under IDEA. 
  • The student is in an alternate curriculum aligned with their state's academic standards and is participating in the state's alternate accountability assessment
WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT)
W-APT is the screener that is based upon the ACCESS for ELLs. Its purposes are for the following:
1. To identify students who may be candidates for English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or bilingual services.
2. To determine the academic English language proficiency levels of students new to a school or to the U.S school system in order to determine appropriate levels and amount of instructional services.
3. To accurately assign students identified as ELLs to one of the tiers for ACCESS for ELLs.
The W-APT test forms and administration manuals are located on the WIDA website. Districts must enter their W-APT username and password to view and print the files. 
The W-APT calculator is a tool that calculates speaking, reading, listening and writing proficiency scores along with composite proficiency levels (CPL) scores and grade-adjusted CPL scores.
 

ACCESS Testing Window
Jan. 2 - Feb. 8, 2013

 

LINKS

Kentucky's WIDA Page

WIDA Website

W-APT Calculator

ACCESS for ELLs Online Course and Manuals

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs

 

TRAINING

Kindergarten W-APT.pptKindergarten W-APT.ppt

Kindergarten W-APT PrintFile.pdfKindergarten W-APT PrintFile.pdf

 

W-APT Grades 1-12.pptW-APT Grades 1-12.ppt

W-APT Grades 1-12 PrintFile.pdfW-APT Grades 1-12 PrintFile.pdf

 

Roster Training in SDRR

ACCESS for ELLs Roster in SDRR 

Native Language Codes

Newly Added Native Language Codes

 

ACCESS for ELLs PowerPoint accompanies the following videos: 

W-APT™ is an English language proficiency "screener" test given to incoming students who may be designated as English Learners (EL). It assists educators with programmatic placement decisions such as identification and placement of ELs.
 
The ACCESS for ELLs® is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment given annually to students who have been identified as English Learner (EL).
 
The Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs® is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment given annually to students who have been identified as English Learner (EL).
 
The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® is an assessment of English language proficiency (ELP) for students in grades 1 -12 who are classified as English language learners (ELLs) and have significant cognitive disabilities that prevent their meaningful participation in the ACCESS for ELLs® assessment.
 
The ACCESS for ELLs® forms are included in the ACCESS for ELLs® testing materials that are provides to districts.

 

 

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® PowerPoint (Updated)

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Chris Williams
Office of Assessment and Accountability
Division of Support and Research
500 Mero Street, 17th Floor CPT
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-4394
Fax (502) 564-7749
chris.williams@education.ky.gov