ACCESSACCESS

Accessing Comprehension and Accessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to Communication in English State to

State for English Language State for English Language LearnersLearners

ACCESS for ELLs is the official ACCESS for ELLs is the official instrument for teachers in Georgia instrument for teachers in Georgia to measure the English language to measure the English language proficiency of the English proficiency of the English Language Learners.Language Learners.

The ACCESS assessment The ACCESS assessment instrument is based upon the instrument is based upon the Wisconsin, Illinois, Delaware, Wisconsin, Illinois, Delaware, Arkansas (WIDA) English Arkansas (WIDA) English Language Proficiency (ELP) Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards.Standards.

WIDA is a multi-state consortium, WIDA is a multi-state consortium, established through a federally established through a federally Enhanced Assessment Grant.Enhanced Assessment Grant.

WIDA developed ELP standards WIDA developed ELP standards and ACCESS for ELLs (Accessing and ACCESS for ELLs (Accessing Comprehension and Communication Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English in English State to State for English Language Learners).Language Learners).

ACCESS replaces the Language ACCESS replaces the Language Assessment Battery (LAB), which Assessment Battery (LAB), which had been used in Georgia since had been used in Georgia since 1985.1985.

Advantages of ACCESS for ELLs:Advantages of ACCESS for ELLs:

Meets federal reporting requirements Meets federal reporting requirements to comply with the Title I and Title III to comply with the Title I and Title III of the No Child Left Behind Actof the No Child Left Behind Act

Is based on the content and language Is based on the content and language functions which are taught to ELLs functions which are taught to ELLs throughout the school yearthroughout the school year

The WIDA standards differ from The WIDA standards differ from the English Language Arts the English Language Arts standards. They are designed standards. They are designed specifically for the linguistically specifically for the linguistically and culturally diverse group of and culturally diverse group of students known as ELLs.students known as ELLs.

WIDA standards are tailored to WIDA standards are tailored to provide academic rigor for provide academic rigor for learners whose levels of English learners whose levels of English language proficiency preclude language proficiency preclude them from accessing, processing, them from accessing, processing, and acquiring unmodified grade and acquiring unmodified grade level content in English. level content in English.

WIDA standards reflect both the WIDA standards reflect both the social and academic dimensions social and academic dimensions of acquiring a second language.of acquiring a second language.

The five overarching ELP The five overarching ELP standards are:standards are:

1.1. English language learners English language learners communicate in English for communicate in English for SOCIAL AND SOCIAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL purposes INSTRUCTIONAL purposes within the school setting.within the school setting.

2.2. English language learners English language learners communicate information, communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the for academic success in the content area of LANGUAGE content area of LANGUAGE ARTS. ARTS.

3.3. English language learners English language learners communicate information, communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the for academic success in the content area of content area of MATHEMATICS.MATHEMATICS.

4.4. English language learners English language learners communicate information, communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the for academic success in the content area of SCIENCE.content area of SCIENCE.

5.5. English language learners English language learners communicate information, communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the for academic success in the content area of SOCIAL content area of SOCIAL STUDIES.STUDIES.

Each of the five English language Each of the five English language proficiency standards proficiency standards encompasses four language encompasses four language domains:domains:

ListeningListening

Listening is to process, Listening is to process, understand, interpret and understand, interpret and evaluate spoken language evaluate spoken language in a variety of situations.in a variety of situations.

SpeakingSpeaking

Speaking is to engage in oral Speaking is to engage in oral communication in a variety of communication in a variety of situations for an array of situations for an array of purposes and audiences.purposes and audiences.

ReadingReading

Reading is to process Reading is to process interpret and evaluate written interpret and evaluate written language, symbols and text language, symbols and text with understanding and with understanding and fluency.fluency.

WritingWriting

Writing is to engage in written Writing is to engage in written communication in a variety of communication in a variety of forms for an array of purposes forms for an array of purposes and audiences.and audiences.

The five language proficiency The five language proficiency levels outline the progression levels outline the progression of language development that of language development that ELLs will process, ELLs will process, understand, produce or use at understand, produce or use at each language level.each language level.

Level 1: EnteringLevel 1: Entering

Pictorial or graphic representation of Pictorial or graphic representation of the language of the content areasthe language of the content areas

Words, phrases, or chunks of Words, phrases, or chunks of language when presented with language when presented with one-step commands, directions, one-step commands, directions, WH-questions, or statements with WH-questions, or statements with visual and graphic supportvisual and graphic support

Level 2 - BeginningLevel 2 - Beginning

General language related to the General language related to the content areascontent areas

Phrases or short sentencesPhrases or short sentences

Level 2 - BeginningLevel 2 - Beginning(continuation)(continuation)

Oral or written language with Oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that often impede the meaning errors that often impede the meaning of the communication when of the communication when presented with one to multiple-step presented with one to multiple-step commands, directions, questions, or a commands, directions, questions, or a series of statements with visual and series of statements with visual and graphic supportgraphic support

Level 3: DevelopingLevel 3: Developing

General and some specific General and some specific language of the content areaslanguage of the content areas

Expanded sentences in oral Expanded sentences in oral interaction or written paragraphsinteraction or written paragraphs

Level 3: DevelopingLevel 3: Developing

(continuation)(continuation)

Oral or written language with Oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that may impede the errors that may impede the communication but retain much of its communication but retain much of its meaning when presented with oral or meaning when presented with oral or written narrative or expository written narrative or expository descriptions with occasional visual descriptions with occasional visual and graphic supportand graphic support

Level 4: ExpandingLevel 4: Expanding

Specific and some technical Specific and some technical language of the content areaslanguage of the content areas

A variety of sentences lengths of A variety of sentences lengths of varying linguistic complexity in varying linguistic complexity in oral discourse or multiple related oral discourse or multiple related paragraphsparagraphs

Level 4: ExpandingLevel 4: Expanding

(continuation)(continuation)

Oral or written language with Oral or written language with phonological, syntactic, or semantic phonological, syntactic, or semantic errors that do not impede the overall errors that do not impede the overall meaning of the communication when meaning of the communication when presented with oral or written presented with oral or written connected discourse with occasional connected discourse with occasional visual and graphic supportvisual and graphic support

Level 5: BridgingLevel 5: Bridging

The technical language of the The technical language of the content areascontent areas

A variety of sentence lengths of A variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity in varying linguistic complexity in extended oral or written discourseextended oral or written discourse

Level 5: BridgingLevel 5: Bridging

(continuation)(continuation)

Oral or written language Oral or written language approaching comparability to that approaching comparability to that of English proficient peers when of English proficient peers when presented with grade level presented with grade level materialmaterial

The annual administration of The annual administration of ACCESS for ELLs determines ACCESS for ELLs determines the language proficiency levels the language proficiency levels of each ELL in the language of each ELL in the language domains and his/her progress.domains and his/her progress.

An ACCESS teacher report is An ACCESS teacher report is provided to help the classroom provided to help the classroom teacher adjust and implement teacher adjust and implement strategies to guide instruction and strategies to guide instruction and assessment for the English assessment for the English language learner. language learner.

WIDA English Language WIDA English Language Proficiency standards CAN DO Proficiency standards CAN DO Descriptions for the English Descriptions for the English language proficiency levels are language proficiency levels are available.available.