ACCESS Testing

Who receives an ACCESS test?

All students who are classified as ELs, including students whose parents have opt-ed out of EL services, must take the ACCESS test each year.

Language from DESE: "Federal and state laws require that EL students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In fulfillment of these laws, ELL students are required to participate in ACCESS for ELs tests." Visit the DESE ACCESS webpage here.

The new 2017 DESE Guidance document states, "Districts are also required to classify [opt-out students] as 'ELs' on district reports, annually assess their language proficiency with the state mandated English language proficiency test ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and notify parents of their child’s participation in such assessments, as well as assessment results."

FEL students (those who have formally exited the ELE Program) do not receive the ACCESS test.

When does ACCESS testing occur?

ACCESS testing takes places each year in January. For the 2017-2018 school year, the testing window is from January 4th to February 7th. Regular EL services will resume once all testing is complete.

Who administers the ACCESS test?

Only ELE Program staff who have completed the WIDA ACCESS training can administer the test.

When do test results arrive?

ACCESS test scores are posted electronically at the end of May. ELE Program staff use a website called WIDA-AMS to download student results.

What standards is ACCESS based on?

The ACCESS test is based on the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards.

What accommodations are available?

The ACCESS test offers a variety of accommodations, which are listed in WIDA's Accessibility and Accommodations Supplement.

For all other questions, please view DESE's ACCESS website or contact a member of the ELE Program staff.