English Language Development (ELD)
September 2023
NEW ELD Portal
Work is continuing on the transition to the new ELD Portal. The translation library is available now, and PDE is working on making the self-paced tutorials and other resources available as soon as possible. PDE will also be posting our fall professional learning calendar, including office hours meetings, as soon as we can.
TESTING INFORMATION
State Testing Requirements
- Pennsylvania students must take the ACCESS for ELLs Online. The paper-based version of ACCESS for ELLs for Grades 1-12 may be given only as an accommodation for students who require it. Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS remain paper-based.
- LEAs may order a paper-based ACCESS for ELLs test on a student-by-student basis during the ordering process. The decision must be based on the student’s individual needs.
- LEAs facing insurmountable challenges to online testing (e.g.., lack of technology infrastructure) should notify PDE by contacting Bob Measel or Julia Puza as soon as possible.
- Schoolwide administration of the paper test for any reason MUST be approved by the state prior to ordering tests.
- Students in Grades 4-5 handwrite their responses to the Writing domain in a response booklet.
- Only students who are or are likely to be eligible for the state Alternate Assessment (PASA) are eligible for the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.
- Reclassification, Monitoring and Redesignation Guidance
Manuals, Guides, and Testing Materials
- Training and test materials for WIDA Screener can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator or WIDA Client Services for assistance.
- Identification, reclassification, monitoring, and redesignation procedures are found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website.
- Test Coordinators place ACCESS materials orders via WIDA AMS. DRC will send e-mail updates to District Test Coordinators pertaining to important testing activity dates. DTCs should review these e-mails carefully to ensure that all ACCESS-related tasks are completed accurately and on time.
- 2022-2023 Pennsylvania State Specific Directions
Changes to ACCESS Test Administrator Training Requirements- Aug. 2023
Previously, all personnel who were administering the ACCESS test or WIDA screeners had to recertify each year by completing the online training on the WIDA secure portal and passing the quizzes. Effective as of the date of this field memo, the following requirements will be in place for test administrators who have previously completed the full training.
For personnel administering the online ACCESS tests
Complete the full training only once. Annual recertification is not necessary.
For personnel administering PAPER ACCESS or WIDA 1-12 Screeners
Complete only the speaking training and pass the relevant quizzes annually after initial certification.
For personnel administering the Kindergarten ACCESS
Pass the Kindergarten ACCESS certification quiz annually.
For personnel administering the Kindergarten Screener
Pass the oral language and the literacy certification quizzes annually.
All personnel who will administer a WIDA assessment or screener MUST complete the full training and pass the relevant quizzes before their first administration.
Full recertification will be required for test administrators who are involved in any test anomalies during the previous year (e.g., missing tests, student plagiarism, breach of test security, etc.). The local Test Coordinator or EL Coordinator is responsible for tracking test anomalies and ensuring compliance with this requirement.
Although annual recertification will not be required for personnel who complete the full training, it is recommended that test administrators review the training materials as needed to ensure that they are fully prepared to administer the test. Also, Test Coordinators or EL Coordinators may establish additional training requirements locally at their discretion (e.g., full annual recertification, individual review of materials, group review, etc.).
Clarification to ACCESS Test Administrator Training Requirements- Sept. 2023
Bob Measel romeasel@pa.gov or Julia Puza jpuza@pa.gov
The requirements for ACCESS and WIDA Screener test administrator training and certification have been updated. Those requirements are posted to the PA page on the WIDA website and were also outlined in the August field update email.
There are two clarifications to the previous announcement:
Personnel administering PAPER ACCESS or WIDA 1-12 Screeners only need to complete the speaking training and pass the speaking quizzes annually after initial full certification. They do not need to complete quizzes for all parts of the training.
ALL personnel who will administer the Alternate ACCESS must complete the full training this year (2023/2024) because WIDA updated the course. A decision has not been made yet concerning whether or not annual recertification will be required for Alternate ACCESS.
Reclassification, Monitoring, and Resignation of ELs
State Contacts
Robin Fillman, Ph. D.
Email: rfillman@riu6.org
Website: riu6.org
Location: 270 Mayfield Road, Clarion, PA, USA
Phone: 814-226-7103
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverviewIU6
Twitter: @riverviewiu6