December 7, 2022
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WIDA AMS Upgrade at 7 p.m. on December 15, 2022.
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WIDA AMS Security Patch from 10 p.m. Saturday, January 7 to 10 a.m. Sunday, January 8, 2023.
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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 February 2023.
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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.
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Screener Test Setup: June 30, 2022-June 29, 2023.
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WY ACCESS Test Setup: November 11, 2022-February 24, 2023.
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WY ACCESS Test Window: January 17-February 24, 2023.
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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, and certification, as well as Standards and Can Do Descriptors, and WIDA Early Years.
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Submit updated EL Coordinator contact information to the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) through this link.
- Contribute to WIDA Test Development work such as bias, sensitivity and content reviews, classroom observations, surveys, expert panels, and field testing. Complete the participation survey to be considered or visit the Building a WIDA Assessment page to learn more.
- If you are new to ACCESS for ELLs, review the Everything About ACCESS for ELLs webpage.
- 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.
- Test Coordinators can keep track of all secure ACCESS for ELLs test materials and check the status of materials after they are returned to DRC using the Secure Materials Tracking Report (SMTR). View the SMTR FAQ here.
Quality Assurance Monitoring
- The WDE’s Monitoring Consultants have notified all districts and schools that will be monitored during the 2022-23 ACCESS for ELLs administration.
- Test schedules for monitored schools are due to the WDE by December 19, 2022.
- The Test Security and Statewide Assessment Administration Procedures Manual for each school is due to the WDE by January 9, 2023.
Testing Material Ordering Process
- Test materials for the ACCESS for ELLs and ALT ACCESS for ELLs will be automatically ordered for all Active English Learners (ELs) based on 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-February 17, 2023.
- Accommodated test forms can also be ordered during the additional test materials ordering window.
ALT ACCESS for ELLs Field Test Information
- Field test materials will be automatically ordered for schools based on the number of ALT ACCESS materials ordered during the 2021-22 school year.
- Field test materials will arrive as early as February 7, 2023.
- The window to administer the field test is February 14-April 17, 2023.
- If a newly enrolled Active EL student is also an ALT ACCESS test taker, they must participate in the ALT ACCESS field test. Additional field test materials can be requested using the Additional Material Order form during the additional field test materials ordering window from February 7-April 10, 2023.
- More information about the required ALT ACCESS for ELLs Field Test is located on the ALT ACCESS Field Test webpage.
For more information about EL assessments, contact Cat Palmer, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or catherine.palmer@wyo.gov.
WDE Requesting Feedback
- The WDE is requesting feedback from educators regarding the possibility of adding the WIDA MODEL Interim Assessment as an optional assessment for the Active English Learner (EL) population.
- The optional interim would be for ELs in grades K-12 and would be available on-demand throughout the school year.
- Interim data will not be monitored or used for accountability purposes.
- For more information about the MODEL Interim Assessment, watch this video or visit the WIDA MODEL webpage.
From 10-11:15 a.m. on December 15, 2022
The WDE EL Quarterly Webinar will provide up-to-date, clarifying information and details on revisions to EL and Title III programs, processes, and documents. Sessions offer guidance on a number of topics relevant to all districts serving ELs. Q&A session will follow. Join here.
For more information, contact Antoinette Hallam, EL Consultant, at 307-777-5214 or antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov.
Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework
- This eWorkshop consists of two webinars scheduled for January 10 and January 17, 2023.
- Educators and leaders will learn how the various components of the 2020 edition of the WIDA English Language Development Standards work together to support equitable access to high quality learning opportunities for multilingual learners.
- Participants will explore how the Standards Framework can support instructional planning and collaboration.
- Sign up here.
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Vista Higher Learning and Pacific Northwest Council For Languages (PNCFL) have partnered to give away a $1,000 scholarship to one current high school student and one current college/university student in the PNCFL region, which includes Wyoming.
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Pacific Northwest Council For Languages (PNCFL) has created the Lauren Kiolet scholarship for a world language teacher within their first three years of teaching. The scholarship is for up to $500 to attend a WAFLT, PNCFL, or ACTFL conference.
- More information for both scholarships can be found here.
SY 2022-23 EL IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
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November 15-January 31: WDE465 Domain Exemption Application Window.
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December 8: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Paper Test Materials Webinar.
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December 13: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
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December 15: Winter Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
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January 4-February 17: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Additional Test Materials Ordering Window.
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January 5: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Technology Troubleshooting Webinar.
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January 10, 17: Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Webinar Series.
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January 17-February 24: ACCESS & ALT-ACCESS Assessment Window.
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January 24: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Returning Paper Materials Webinar.
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January 26: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS Online - Monitoring Completion for Test Coordinators Webinar.
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February 7: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Materials Arrive in Districts.
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February 7-April 10: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Additional Materials Ordering Window.
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February 14-April 17: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Assessment Window.
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March 7: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS - Post Testing Data Validation Webinar.
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March 14: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS - Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
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March 15: Teacher Leaders - Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Webinar.
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March 16: Spring Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
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March 22: Teacher Leaders - Planning with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Workshop (In-Person/Location TBD).
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April 25-26: WIDA Kindergarten ACCESS Bias, Sensitivity and Content Review Committee in Washington, D.C.
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May 5-6: 6th Annual Wyoming ESL & DLI Conference.
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May 9: ACCESS for ELLs Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
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May 11: WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Webinar.
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May 18: Summer Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
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August 15: WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Webinar.
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August 17: WIDA Screener Online Webinar.
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August 31: Deadline to Complete WIDA Self-Paced eWorkshops.
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