Assessment, Accommodations, and Testing Procedures

Title III, Part A statute om ESEA/ESSA 3113(b)(3)(B), requires the Georgia Department of Education to ensure all districts receiving Title III funds annually assess the English language proficiency of all English Learners, consistent with the Title I, Part A statute. 

The APS Office of Assessment is responsible for the administration, monitoring, and validation of the ACCESS assessments (ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alternate ACCESS). Processes created by the GaDOE Assessment and Accountability Division are implemented with fidelity to ensure compliance. The director overseeing ESOL collaborates with the district test/assessment coordinators to support a successful test administration each year. The APS Office of Assessment communicates to schools that the district must meet the 100% ELP Assessment Participation rate on ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS. When students are not administered the assessments, the district must complete the GaDOE Non- Participant Application indicating the reasons why students did not participate. If the district participation rate was less than 95% a corrective action plan must be submitted and implemented as required by GaDOE. School Testing Coordinators and District ESOL Personnel attend annual professional development sessions/meetings led by the APS Office of Assessment. Testing Coordinators are responsible for training ESOL teachers and any school personnel who participate in ACCESS 2.0 administration. As a reminder, the ESOL teacher serves as the test administrator who administers the assessment and supports the school Testing Coordinator with the administration as required.