Maine’s 2013-14 ACCESS for ELLs® testing cycle available

As part of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, all Maine schools annually assess the English language proficiency (ELP) of their English learners in kindergarten through grade 12 using Assessing Comprehension and Communications in English State to State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs®), a standards-based ELP assessment common throughout the state. The testing cycle for 2013-14 is as follows:

Task Start Date End Date
Test ordering by districts 10/1/13 10/18/13
Pre-ID labels ordered by State 10/18/13 10/18/13
MetriTech ships test materials to districts 11/13/13 11/21/13
Districts receive test materials 11/21/13 11/21/13
Test window 12/2/13 1/31/14
Districts pack and ship material to MetriTech 2/3/14 2/7/14
All material must be shipped to MetriTech 2/7/14 2/7/14
MetriTech ships reports to districts 4/7/14 4/11/14

The Maine DOE automatically orders ACCESS for ELLs® student labels for all English learners based on the limited English proficiency (LEP) data contained in the Infinite Campus State Edition (ICSE) on Oct. 15. Schools must update and verify their ICSE enrollment data, including language codes, to ensure accuracy of student labels. To order additional materials for students enrolling after Oct. 15, contact MetriTech directly at 800-747-4868.

In order for districts to receive score reports the week of April 11, all ACCESS for ELLs® testing material, used or unused, must be returned to MetriTech no later than Feb. 8.

To administer the ACCESS for ELLs®, one must be trained in the administration of the test. Those seeking certification should complete Maine’s online training course through World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) and obtain a certificate.

All new WIDA users are required to create accounts. To create a new account, click the “Login” button in the top right corner of the WIDA home page. To access the account creator, enter the following case-sensitive information:

Username: maine
Password: lobster

Enter your personal information and submit the form to immediately activate your account. You will receive an email containing your login information, but you may login right away without having received the email.

To supplement the online course, there will be one required face-to-face workshop for new ACCESS for ELLs® administrators. Please note that the in-person training does not replace the online course. WIDA recommends completing the online course prior to attending the workshop. This workshop for new administrators will be held Jan. 7 at the Cross Building, Room 103, in Augusta.

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