ELP Assessment Update November 30, 2023
Welcome to the last month of the 2023! As we prepare for the new testing year, we are providing answers to some common questions.
December 1 is the day OSPI will release the refresher training for WIDA Online ACCESS. This training can be taken in lieu of the Secure Portal training only for Online ACCESS (grades 1-12) and only for test administrators who completed training in the WIDA Secure Portal for the WIDA Screener after July 1, 2023 or the WIDA ACCESS Online after December 1, 2022. District assessment coordinators will receive access to the course and can share it with those in their district who are eligible to take the course. Districts are not required to allow the refresher training for their test administrators.
December 8 is the last day to make sure CEDARS data is accurate for the file OSPI sends to DRC. This file will determine who in your district gets a white student label and all the other materials you will receive in your initial shipment.
December 8 is also the last day to pre-register students for paper tests and the Alternate ACCESS in WAMS. If you have students who will use ASL for test delivery, need to have their speaking test scored locally, or need a paper test for some other reason, please identify them in WAMS under the Pre-ID tab and Pre-Registration. This is also where students are identified for WIDA Alternate ACCESS. Please do not request large print or Braille materials here.
January 4 or 5 is when Student Management will open in WIDA-AMS. At that time you can arrange students in test sessions, add/edit students, etc.
January 15-19 is when districts will receive their initial materials for WIDA testing. These materials will be based on the file pulled from CEDARS on December 8.
January 15 is when the Additional Materials Order window opens. It is important that you receive your initial materials shipment before ordering additional materials as you will often receive overage on common materials. Also, please refrain from making daily or weekly additional materials orders. OSPI must approve these orders and having multiple orders from each district delays how fast we can move through and approve orders.
January 29 is opening day of the testing window. The window will close on March 22.
February 24 is the first day districts have the authority to decide if students enrolling in Washington schools will take both the screener and the annual test before the end of the test window or if they will only do the screener. Students arriving on or before February 23 must take both if they are determined eligible for program.
OSPI has updated our policy regarding the use of ASL on ELP assessments. In order to provide access to WIDA assessments, Washington now allows ASL to be used on the WIDA assessments for students who are learning both American Sign Language and English literacy skills as part of a complete communication system. In Listening, Speaking, and Writing domains, prompts can be delivered using ASL. In Speaking, students can respond using ASL.
If you have a student who will be accessing the WIDA assessments using ASL here are the steps to follow:
- Pre-register the student for a paper test in WAMS (before December 8). This step is not necessary for kindergarten students.
- Contact ELPAssessments@k12.wa.us with the name and contact information of the interpreter who will be administering the WIDA test.
- The interpreter must complete WIDA paper test administrator training on the WIDA Secure Portal.
- When materials arrive, the interpreter can review the materials.
- On January 24 at 3:00 interpreters who are delivering WIDA assessments will need to join a Zoom meeting to clarify standardized test delivery.
- During the testing window deliver the assessment.
- After the testing window closes, interpreters will be asked to reconvene on a Zoom meeting with OSPI to discuss what additional supports are needed in the future and what worked/did not work this year.
If you have a student who will need to test on a large print or Braille assessment, please email ELPAssessments@k12.wa.us immediately to request a test. Washington is partnering with ELPA21 for these tests again this year. OSPI will be sending these materials to districts directly.
If your students with visual impairments will be taking the WIDA Alternate ACCESS, please contact OSPI for a Braille supplement. The Alternate ACCESS is already in large print form, but if a student is in need of a Braille supplement, we have that at OSPI.
English Language Proficiency Assessments (OSPI) page has links to all other ELP Assessment pages as well as archived ELP Assessment Updates, links to Lunch with Leslie on Mondays at noon, the WIDA District Contact List and WIDA Assessment Guidance 2023-24
Trainings, Modules, and Presentations (OSPI) page includes the updated Domain Exemption Guidance for IEP Teams video and a new Accommodations and WIDA recorded Webinar.
WIDA Secure Portal offers a variety of webinars focused on testing and test administration as well as test administrator training.
WIDA Washington is a place for quick reference for important dates, identification and placement guidance, and the ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.
wida@datarecognitioncorp.com – DRC’s help desk can support any questions about WIDA-AMS and how it works.
help@wida.us – WIDA’s help desk can support questions about WIDA Secure Portal access.
ELPAssessments@k12.wa.us – OSPI can support questions about state policy and provide support when DACs have questions.
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