11-03-2021 | November 2021 Edition
For more information on the following topics, contact Antoinette Hallam, WDE EL Consultant, at 307-777-5217 or antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov.
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WIDA AMS Upgrade at 7 p.m. MST on November 18, 2021.
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WIDA AMS Security Patch Saturday at 10 p.m. MST to Sunday at 10 a.m. MST on November 6-7 and December 4-5, 2021.
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DRC Customer Service is available from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. MST, Monday-Friday at 855-787-9615 or WIDA@datarecognitioncorp.com. Contact DRC with testing material questions, Central Office Services (COS), and processing paper test materials.
- The WIDA Client Services Center is available from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. MST, Monday-Thursday and 6 a.m.-4 p.m. MST on Friday. Contact at help@wida.us or 866-276-7735. Contact WIDA with questions on WIDA Secure Portal user accounts, ACCESS for ELLs, WIDA Screener, MODEL, KWAPT, score reports, TA procedures, training, and certification, as well as Standards and Can Do Descriptors, and WIDA Early Years.
- Contact antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov with any updated EL Coordinator’s contact information.
- EL District Coordinators can search for a student in the EL Status Manager to access student information and/or to begin an override application process for an active EL.
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Kindergarten Screener Field Study Data must be submitted by November 12, 2021 on the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) Excel Spreadsheet previously shared via email to all district EL Coordinators.
Due by December 17, 2021
- The WDE will perform Statewide Assessment Monitoring and Quality Assurance site visits with districts between January 19 and February 26, 2022 during the ACCESS for ELLs Assessment Administration window. The WDE will review school/district implementation and compliance with both federal and state laws and regulations, including evaluating test security, administration practices, and review of documents related to ACCESS assessments for the 2021-22 school year.
- Complete this Google Testing Schedule Form by December 17, 2021 for each Test Administrator in your school/district and for each domain testing session. For districts with a large number of test sessions, the WDE will email an Excel spreadsheet to EL Coordinators.
- Further guidance will be provided to districts on what to expect and how to prepare for these visits by mid-November. During the visits, the WDE will dedicate time to answer questions and provide technical assistance.
Deadline: November 22, 2021
Building Test Coordinators/District Test Coordinators will follow the test materials ordering procedures outlined in the WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS) User Guide.
Important information about materials ordering:
- All orders must be placed by November 22, 2021 to receive materials during the shipment window. Pre-ID labels will be included in the initial materials shipment regardless of materials ordered.
- Materials should be ordered by school location to ensure district school labels are received.
- Orders should be placed for the actual number of students.
- An overage is sent to each district. Check the overage first before ordering additional materials for students that enroll after the window.
- Material orders must be placed for both online and paper testing modes through DRC using WIDA AMS.
- Some materials are ship-to-district and some are ship-to-schools.
- Districts can update contact information for shipped-to-district materials (such as Test Coordinator name and shipping address) during the window.
- The DRC will send an email to districts to confirm that their materials have shipped.
- The Ordering Materials Webinar recording is available in the Secure Portal through the "Webinars" path. Once you have located the "Pre-Testing: Ordering Materials in WIDA AMS'' title, click the "watch video" link.
From 3:30-5 p.m. MST on November 30, 2021
- During this training, test administrators explore how the WIDA Standards and Assessment System is connected to the ACCESS for ELLs Online.
- Participants will learn to administer the online test to students. All participants must have computers or tablets and an internet connection to access sample items and the WIDA Assessment Management System.
- Register here to participate.
Prepare for the Upcoming Test Administration
The following webinars are available in the next few weeks, from Noon-1 p.m. MST.
Reminders and Tips for Comprehensive Services
Before administering the ACCESS/ALT ACCESS Assessment you must:
- Complete District Test Coordinator and Test Administrator annual training.
- Complete the Non-Disclosure and User Agreement (NDUA).
- Complete the Test Security Agreement.
- Review the 2021-22 Assessment Calendar for testing dates.
- Finalize student counts. Add new students to WIDA AMS and remove students who are no longer ELs from test sessions.
- Review student data for accuracy, assign accommodations for students with an IEP or 504 plan, and document EL supports needed on the Individual English Learner Plan (IELP).
- Order test materials. Review materials when received for the correct amount and type and report the amount and type of overage to the District Coordinator.
- Create and submit test schedules to WDE for monitoring.
- Refer to the ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist for more information. The checklist is a guide highlighting tasks for schools or districts to complete before, during, and after testing.
The links below include access to additional resources, guidance, and the opportunity to network within the EL community:
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September 13-December 24: Considerations when Educating Bilingual Learners with Identified Learning Disabilities (Self-Paced eWorkshop).
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November 9: Technology Coordinator Support for Test Administrators Webinar.
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November 15: Follow-up Zoom meeting for Participants of Self-Paced eWorkshop: Considerations when Educating Bilingual Learners with Identified Learning Disabilities.
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November 16: Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs for New Test Administrators Webinar.
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November 18: Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
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November 23: Alternate ACCESS for ELLs for New Test Administrators
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November 30: ACCESS for ELLs Overview Webinar.
- December 1-February 25: WIDA AMS Test Setup Available.
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December 7: ACCESS Online Managing Test Sessions Webinar.
- January 4-6: ACCESS Test Materials Received in District.
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January 4: ACCESS Online Managing Test Sessions Webinar.
- January 5-February 18: ACCESS Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS.
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January 6: Technology Troubleshooting Webinar.
- January 18-February 25: ACCESS & ALT ACCESS Assessment Window.
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January 27: ACCESS Paper - Returning Materials Webinar.
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February 1: ACCESS Online - Monitoring Completion for Test Coordinators Webinar.
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February 25, March 4, March 11: Scaffolding Learning Through Language 3-Part Webinar Series.
- March 1: ACCESS Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC.
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March 8: ACCESS Post-Testing: Data Validation.
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March 15: Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
- March 18-31: ACCESS Pre-Reporting Data Validation for LEAs in WIDA AMS.
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March 30: Learning through Two Languages for School Leaders ICMEE.
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April 25: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support ICMEE.
- May 4: ACCESS Reports and Data Files Available Online in WIDA AMS.
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May 5: Uncovering and Leveraging Students’ Home Literacies in the Classroom ICMEE.
- May 20-24: ACCESS Printed Reports Available in Districts.
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May 25: Reading Supports for Multilingual Learners ICMEE.
- June 17: ACCESS Updated Data Posted in WIDA AMS.
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