ELD Department News
Keeping you in the know!
October Count - Wrapping it UP!!
Beginning on Monday, September 21st, we are asking that you SCAN, or personally deliver to the front desk at Wilcox, all identification paperwork to both Christina Levesque and Remy Rummel. This will allow student data to be loaded prior to October 1st.
As you progress throughout the year, you will continue to assess your incoming potential English Learners. Please keep the following in mind:
- If a language other than English listed on the enrollment form, you must first assess, and then collect a body of evidence.
- You have 2 weeks to assess newly enrolled, potential ELs.
- Only new to DCSD (or students who were not assessed in DCSD) are assessed with the W-APT. DO NOT assess continuing students who have been assessed in DCSD unless they left the district prior to this academic year.
- From now forward, please scan paperwork as soon as possible within the 2 weeks .
- Please send ONLY these three documents: W-APT Checklist, Enrollment Form, and the W-APT. More information is located on the District ELD Google Site.
On a side note, we have received many Enrollment Forms indicating Chinese as the home language. When entering Chinese in IC, we are required to choose the dialect. Please indicate either Mandarin or Cantonese on the W-APT Checklist prior to sending us paperwork.
Mark Your Calendars!
ELD Department Think Tanks: All ELD Department Think Tanks will be held at the HOPE Online Learning Center (373 Inverness Parkway).
- October 1, 2015: 12:30-3:30
- December 9, 2015: 12:00-3:00 (ACCESS 2.0 Training)
- March 9, 2016: 12:00-3:00
- May 2016: 12:00-3:00 - Date TBD
ELD Walkthrough: For ELD teachers in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year teaching ELD in DCSD.
- August 24, September 21, October 26, November 16, December 14, January 25, February 22, March 7, April 18, May 16.
- 3:30-5:30: Secondary only 3:30-4:00, K-12 4:00-5:00, Elementary only 5:00-5:30
- Register through InspirED
- Location: Timber Trail Elementary
ACCESS Resources
Introducing ACCESS for ELLs 2.0!
Welcome to a new school year! WIDA is excited to announce the availability of a number of new resources to support educators who will administer ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Paper or Online tests in 2015-16. This message outlines the new materials that are available as well as others that are upcoming.
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Training
The ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 training course is in the process of a makeover to accompany WIDA’s newly enhanced assessment system. When finished in a few short weeks, the training will consist of step-by-step checklists, engaging new modules, visuals, and updated test administration manuals to assist educators in their roles as Test Administrators and Test Coordinators. Many of these resources are available now and more will be added every week!
Since there have been changes to testing procedures and scoring in some cases, many educators who are involved in ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 test administration will be required to complete updated training this year. You are welcome to login to www.wida.us now to review the new training materials launched this week and we recommend using the resources available to make plans for the coming months.
First, you will need to confirm with your district whether you will be administering ACCESS for ELLs 2.0Online or Paper for grades 1-12. The Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs assessments have not changed so unless required by your state or district, recertification is not needed for these components, but their training sections have also been reorganized to match the new checklist-driven training course format.
As in the past, there will be quizzes to pass for Kindergarten, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, and theACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Paper Speaking test. After passing a quiz with an 80% or higher, educators will be certified to give these tests. All other training will be in the form of a checklist of training tasks. The training course will still provide a certificate of your completed training, listing all passed quizzes and completed checklists, which will indicate which sections of the test you are allowed to administer.
Please log into your WIDA user account at www.wida.us to view the exciting new training course forACCESS for ELLs 2.0!
Website Updates
In addition to the new training course materials, WIDA has added new content to the ACCESS for ELLs2.0 webpage including overview information and comprehensive FAQs.
WIDA is also offering sample online test items for educators to share with parents and students. NOTE: The sample items are not designed as practice tests for students but are designed to show the new online test platform.
Handy Links
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Preparation Resources page. This page includes:
- Online ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Sample Items
- Sample Items Instructions
- Live webinar dates with registration links
- ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Updates Page. This page includes:
- Training Information
- Monthly Updates: added the second Monday of each month.
WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS)
WIDA AMS, the administrative online portal for ACCESS for ELLs 2.0, is now available. Please visit these pages for information:
NOTE: Data Recognition Corp (DRC) will be setting up the accounts for Test Coordinators later this month after each state sends designated Test Coordinator contact information to DRC. You do not need to contact DRC or your state for a WIDA AMS account at this time.
Questions? Contact the WIDA Client Services Center at help@wida.us, 866-276-7735.