English Learners Newsletter

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 10/06/2022 09:41 AM MDT

Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

English Learners Update Masthead

October 5, 2022

MAINTENANCE & CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • WIDA AMS Upgrade at 7 p.m. on October 20, 2022.
  • WIDA AMS Security Patch from 10 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday on November 5-6, 2022.
  • Updated Supported System Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs Online and WIDA Screener Online have been posted to WIDA AMS. These system requirements are valid through June 29, 2023.
  • WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for test sessions through the window dates listed below. To participate in WIDA Screener Online, students must be added to WIDA AMS and placed into test sessions. Add students and create test sessions independently, or add students to an existing test session.
    • Screener Test Setup: June 30, 2022-June 29, 2023.
    • WY ACCESS Test Setup: November 11, 2022-February 24, 2023.
    • WY ACCESS Test Window: January 17, 2023-February 24, 2023.
  • DRC Customer Service is available from 6 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday at 855-787-9615 or WIDA@datarecognitioncorp.com. Contact DRC with questions about testing material, Central Office Services (COS), and processing paper test materials.
  • The WIDA Client Services Center is available from 6 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday and 6 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday. Contact at help@wida.us or 866-276-7735. Contact WIDA with questions about WIDA Secure Portal user accounts, ACCESS for ELLs, WIDA Screener, MODEL, score reports, TA procedures, training, certification, Standards and Can Do Descriptors, and WIDA Early Years.
  • Submit updated EL Coordinator contact information to the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) through this link.

QUICK INFORMATION & DEADLINES

  • The Wyoming WIDA web page includes important milestone dates for the 2022-23 school year and the new 2022-23 Wyoming ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist.
  • The Wyoming Association of Language Teacher’s 2022 Annual WALT Conference is October 6-8, 2022 in Casper. The WDE will present on the Wyoming Seal of Biliteracy during the conference.
  • Honor a Wyoming educator for supporting English Learners by submitting a nomination form. If your nominee is selected, a WIDA staff member will reach out to the educator directly.

OCTOBER WDE684 EL FALL REPORTING

Updated Reporting Timeline

  • The October WDE684 Fall Reporting Window is October 3-14, 2022.
  • The Corrections Window is October 17-28, 2022.
    • Districts will report students who met the ACCESS proficiency criteria in the 2021-22 school year as monitoring Year 1 in the 2022-23 school year.
  • On October 31, 2022 the data will be considered to have been fully reviewed by districts for accuracy and ready for use in school enrollment publications and accountability indicators.

ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS FOR ELLS TEST ADMINISTRATION

NEW Test Monitoring Application (TMA) 

  • Available on Friday, October 7, 2022.
  • TMA allows Test Administrators to monitor testing activity using a secure dashboard. TMA is available for screeners and ACCESS assessments and is accessible through WIDA AMS. It is optional to use.
  • More information is included in the WIDA AMS User Guide.

2022-23 Screeners for English Language Proficiency (ELP)

  • Kindergarten - Grade 1 (first semester): Schools may choose between the WIDA Model Screener or the new WIDA Screener for Kindergarten.
  • Grade 1 (second semester) - Grade 12: Schools must use the WIDA Screener.
  • Additional information is included in the WDE EL Guidebook.

2022-23 Test Administration Manuals are Available

  • The ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrator Manual, District and School Test Coordinator Manual, and Test Administrator Essentials have been updated for the 2022-23 testing year and are available in the WIDA Secure Portal. 
  • New test administrators and new test coordinators must read through the manual relevant to their role in testing. Experienced test administrators and coordinators should review the updates in the “New for the 2022-2023 School Year” section, and review other sections as needed.

Test Administrator Requirements for ACCESS Assessments

  • The Test Administrator must be a certified teacher and have completed the certification requirements for the assessments given.
  • District Test Coordinators and Test Administrators must know whose responsibility it is to administer the assessments and the training requirements. 
  • Inappropriate test administration preparation may result in incomplete scoring, delay of scoring, or invalidation of assessment results. 
  • If a student’s score is invalidated or does not have a composite score, the annual EL target is reset for accountability purposes.

NEW Test Material Ordering Process

  • Test materials will be automatically ordered for all Active English Learners (ELs) based on the information provided in the October WDE684 submission.
  • If new Active EL students enroll between November and January, test administrators can order materials during the additional test materials ordering window from January 4, 2023-February 17, 2023.
  • Materials will be shipped to district offices and separated by school. In some instances, rural schools will have materials shipped directly to the school. DTCs and BCs must confirm shipping addresses in WIDA AMS by October 14, 2022.

Braille Material Updates

  • The test administrator script for braille now includes the human reader script directions and graphic descriptions. Find the full description of braille kit contents in the WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual.
  • Schools will receive sample items and a sample items user guide with each braille kit. These sample items will be in the same braille code as the ordered test materials. 
  • Test administrators and students should use the sample items to become familiar with the braille assessment. 
  • Sample items and the sample items user guide are not considered secure test materials and should not be returned to DRC; these materials may be kept by the district.

Pre-Testing Training Available

  • Pre-Testing: Technology Installations Part 1
    • This webinar provides instruction on how to configure a Central Office Services Configuration and installation of Central Office Service Devices if needed. Join here at noon on October 11, 2022.
  • Pre-Testing: Technology Installations Part 2
    • This webinar provides instruction on how to configure a Central Office Services Configuration and installation of Central Office Service Devices if needed. Join here at noon on October 13, 2022.
  • Pre-Testing: Test Scheduling - ACCESS
    • This webinar provides instruction on how to schedule testing, group students, time the tests, schedule practice tests, and schedule a room. Join here at noon on October 18, 2022.

For more information about EL assessments, contact Cat Palmer, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or catherine.palmer@wyo.gov.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Language Specialists: Engaging Multilingual Newcomers Workshop

  • The eWorkshop will focus on the latest research regarding newcomer multilingual learners’ success in schools.
  • This eWorkshop will consist of a series of three live webinars and assignments to be completed between webinars.
    • Webinar 1: 3:30-5 p.m. on October 18, 2022. 
    • Webinar 2: 3:30-5 p.m. on October 25, 2022. 
    • Webinar 3: 3:30-5 p.m. on November 1, 2022.
  • PTSB credit: .5 credit available upon completion.
  • Register Here.

Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades Workshop

This workshop will focus on writing instruction that supports the use of the Teaching and Learning Cycle as a way to empower multilingual writers, to produce successful academic writing, and to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes and different audiences.

  • In-Person Training.
  • Date: October 25-26, 2022.
  • Time: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Location: 863 Sweetwater St, in Lander (Fremont CSD#1).
  • PTSB credit: 1 credit available upon completion.
  • Register Here.

Collaboration Practices and Potentialities

Participants will investigate practices that support language development and equitable instruction through teacher collaboration, student collaboration, and leadership support. Participants will have access to tools and resources to support a plan for collaboration that promotes language development for multilingual learners.

  • In-Person Training.
  • Date: October 28, 2022.
  • Time: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Location: 615 Hamilton St, in Douglas (Converse CSD#1).
  • PTSB credit: .5 credit available upon completion.
  • Register Here.

EL BEST PRACTICES

Individual English Learner Plans (IELP) for Students

  • A language support team should create an IELP for each English Learner in their district. 
  • IELP’s should be individualized and must include the following:
    • Accommodations and supports needed in the classroom and on assessments.
    • Explanation of appropriate supports used in classrooms, assignments, and district tests.
    • Note: There may be some accommodations/supports that are used in the classroom that might not be appropriate for an assessment. 
    • There may be some accommodations/supports that are used on the ACCESS Assessment that are not allowed on content assessments and vice versa.
    • Also keep in mind that it may be appropriate to offer different accommodations for the listening, speaking, reading and writing language domain tests;.
    • Special education status.
    • An explanation of the “Language Instructional Educational Programs” (LIEP) and/EL Services the student is currently participating in or receiving.

Other items that may be Included:

  • Any Support or Strategies the student is receiving based on their needs. 
  • Student Learning and Social Goals.
  • Goals which are set according to the student’s English language proficiency level, and Steps taken to assist students to progress towards their goals.
    • Language proficiency scores from a screener, ACCESS for ELLs, state summative, classroom, and district data. 
    • What resources they are using that are effective, observations; how students are processing information and or any coping skills.
  • Information from the family interview or the students records such as:
    • Information on the student’s background, level of native language proficiency, educational history in the home country and in the United States, SLIFE (Students w/limited or interrupted formal education), strengths and needs and any Parental input/support and Parental communications and notifications.

SY 2022-23 EL IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • September 1-August 31: WIDA’s Self-Paced Virtual Workshops Available.
  • October 3-14: October WDE684 Fall Reporting Window.
  • October 6-8: Wyoming Association of Language Teacher’s (WALT) Conference.
  • October 11: ACCESS for ELLS Technology Installations Part 1 Webinar.
  • October 13: ACCESS for ELLS Technology Installations Part 2 Webinar.
  • October 14: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Deadline to Confirm Shipping Addresses in WIDA AMS.
  • October 17-28: October WDE684 Corrections Window.
  • October 18: ACCESS for ELLS Test Scheduling Webinar.
  • October 18, 25: Language Specialists - Engaging Multilingual Newcomers Webinar.
  • October 25-26: Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades Workshop (In-Person/Location TBD).
  • October 28: Collaboration Practices and Potentialities Workshop (In-Person/ Location TBD).
  • November 1: Language Specialists - Engaging Multilingual Newcomers Webinar.
  • November 8: ACCESS for ELLS Technology Coordinator Support for Test Administrators Webinar.
  • November 15: Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs for New Test Administrators Webinar.
  • November 17: ACCESS Online - Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
  • November 22: ALT-ACCESS for ELLS for New Test Administrators Webinar.
  • November 29: ACCESS for ELLs Online Test Administrator Training.
  • November 30: ACCESS for ELLs Test Coordinator Training.
  • December 1, 8, 15: Attending to Equity Through Bilingual Instruction Webinar.
  • December 6: ACCESS Online - Managing Test Sessions Webinar.
  • December 8: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Paper Test Materials Webinar.
  • December 13: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
  • December 15: Winter Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
  • January 4-February 17: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Additional Test Materials Ordering Window.
  • January 5: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Technology Troubleshooting Webinar.
  • January 10, 17: Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Webinar.
  • January 17-February 24: ACCESS & ALT-ACCESS Assessment Window.
  • January 24: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS- Returning Paper Materials Webinar.
  • January 26: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Online - Monitoring Completion for Test Coordinators Webinar.
  • February 7: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Materials Arrive in Districts.
  • February 14-April 20: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Assessment Window.
  • March 7: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS - Post Testing Data Validation Webinar.
  • March 14: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS - Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
  • March 15: Teacher Leaders - Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Webinar.
  • March 16: Spring Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
  • March 22: Teacher Leaders - Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Workshop (In-Person/Location TBD).
  • May 5-6: ESL/DLI Conference.
  • May 9: Interpreting ACCESS for ELLs Score Reports Webinar.
  • May 11: WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Webinar.
  • May 18: Summer Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
  • August 15: WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Webinar.
  • August 17: WIDA Screener Online Webinar.
  • August 31: Deadline to Complete WIDA Self-Paced eWorkshops.