English Language Proficiency Assessments

English Language Proficiency Assessment

OSDE English Learner Contacts Guide:

OSDE ELPA “Who Do I Call?”: This is a quick guide to which OSDE office handles a given area of EL services, and to situations when districts need to contact WIDA or DRC instead of OSDE.

OSDE English Learner/WIDA FAQ Documents:

• English Learners/WIDA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): This document contains comprehensive information on all aspects of identifying, serving, and testing English learners in Oklahoma public schools. This is a living document and is subject to change; please consult the change log below for a list of all corrections, additions, and changes. 
• 2018-2019 English Learners/WIDA FAQ Change Log: Please consult this document for a list of all corrections, additions, and changes made to the English Learners/WIDA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for school year 2018-2019.
• English Learners Exit Criteria For Other U.S. States and Territories: This chart provides a list of the English learner exit criteria for ELs attending public schools in other U.S. states and territories. The list includes EL exit criteria for both other states and territories that belong to the WIDA consortium and use ACCESS as their English language proficiency assessment (ELPA), and for states who do not belong to the WIDA consortium and use different ELPAs.  

English Learner OSTP Accommodations Documents

• 2018-2019 EL State Testing Accommodations 
• 2018-19 English Learner OSTP Accommodations Manual Change Log
• Approved Word-to-Word Dictionary List

OSDE 2018-2019 ACCESS Testing Preparation Webinar

• Gearing Up for ACCESS: Preparation and Resources for Spring 2019 ACCESS Testing: Webinar; Slide Deck This presentation provides an overview of where to find important resources for ACCESS testing English learners, as well as covers the state-specific guidelines for administering ACCESS. Resources explored included the mandatory ACCESS training courses and quizzes, the WIDA Assessment Management System, and the other important ACCESS webinars, manuals, and reference documents needed for ACCESS test preparation.
• Form U-A: Unique Accommodation Request Form for ACCESS

OSDE 2018 LIEP and ELAP Guidance Webinar

• Creating District and Student Level Language Instruction Plans for English Learners Webinar: Slide Deck This presentation provides step-by-step reviews of every section and question on both the district-level Language Instructional Education Program (LIEP) and student-level English Language Academic Plan (ELAP), and guides districts in using best practice in crafting district language instruction programs and individual student support plans for their English learners. 

OSDE EngageOK 2018 English Learner Presentations:

• Oklahoma’s English Learner Updates for 2018-2019: Changes to Serving ELs Under ESSA + WIDA Updates: This presentation covers the many updates to identifying, serving, and proficiency testing English learners under ESSA. WIDA District Testing Coordinators are strongly encouraged to review this presentation.
• Setting English Learners Up for Academic Success: EL Strategies for the Regular Classroom: This presentation provides tips, strategies, and free resource links designed to aid both EL teachers and classroom teachers in using best practices with their English learner students.

ELPA Band Committee Exit Request Resources:

These documents will assist districts in making ELP Band Exit Requests in the Accountability Reporting application in Single Sign-On for English learners that were eligible to be potentially reclassified as English proficient and exit EL services. 

• Single Sign-On Instructions: Making ELP Band Committee Exit Request: This document provides step-by-step instructions and screenshots to guide districts in making ELP Band Committee Exit requests in the Accountabiiity Reporting application in Single Sign-On.

• Using the ACCESS ELP Band Process for English Learners Webinar, 9/25/18: This webinar covers all aspects of the ELP Band Committee Exit request process in the Accountability Reporting application in Single Sign-On. 

Upcoming English Learner Professional Development:

2018-2019 English Learner Professional Development Schedule: This document lists the English learner-related professional development offered by OSDE for the 2018-2019 school year.

OSDE English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Documents:

• Guidance for English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Committees: This document provides guidance for districts who have English learners in grades 3-12 who have scored within the ELP band on their latest ACCESS test and scored Basic or above on their latest OSTP ELA test. Such students are eligible to have an ELP band committee convene in order to decide whether they should be retained in EL services, or reclassified as English proficient and exited from EL services. This document provides guidelines and instructions to districts involving this process, including timelines, required committee members, and descriptions of the data the committees will need to use when making their decisions.
• ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Rubric: This OSDE-provided rubric must be used when ELP band committees are making reclassification and exit decisions for ELs in grades 3-12. The rubric must be used to make decisions for ELs who have scored within the ELP band of 4.3-4.7 on their current Overall/Composite score on ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and have scored Basic or better on their current OSTP ELA score.
• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Rubric: This OSDE-provided rubric must be used when ELP band committees are making reclassification and exit decisions for dually identified ELs with significant cognitive challenges in grades 3-12. The rubric must be used to make decisions for ELs who have scored within the ELP band of A3-P1 on their Overall/Composite score for two consecutive test years, and have met the remaining two required rubric criteria for Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.
• Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM): The SOLOM is a tool designed to allow educators to gather information about EL students’ oral language use in the classroom. This information may in turn be used to help ELP band committees make reclassification and exit decisions for ELs who take ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and are eligible for an ELP Band committee. The SOLOM should be administered in both English and, whenever practicable, in the student’s native language(s). Please note that the SOLOM is an optional element of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 ELP Band rubric, and its use is not mandatory.

• Approved Substitutions for OSTP ELA Score Requirement for Third Graders: This document lists the approved norm-referenced tests that may be used in place of the #2 required element of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 ELP Band Rubric for current third graders, who were not in an OSTP-tested grade the prior test year. Please note that these tests are only allowable substitutions for current third grade students who were not in an OSTP-tested grade in the same year that they scored within the ELP band on ACCESS for ELLs 2.0.

• Approved Substitutions for OSTP ELA Score Requirement for Secondary Students in Non-OSTP Tested Grades: This document lists the approved norm-referenced tests that may be used in place of the #2 required element of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 ELP Band Rubric for secondary students who were not in an OSTP-tested grade. Please note that these tests are only allowable substitutions for students who were not in an OSTP-tested grade in the same year that they scored within the ELP band on ACCESS for ELLs 2.0.

• Approved List for Norm-Reference Tests (NRT) ELP Band Decisions: This document lists the approved norm-referenced tests that may be used for the #6 optional element of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 ELP Band Rubric.

Links to Important WIDA Resources:

•  Instructions for Obtaining WIDA and WIDA AMS Accounts: This flyer provides instructions district staff will need to follow when they need new WIDA and/or WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS) accounts.
• Oklahoma WIDA Member Page: Oklahoma’s page on the WIDA website contains a wealth of state-specific information related to WIDA and English learner testing. Resources include Oklahoma’s current ACCESS testing calendar, Identification and Placement Guidance, ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, and State-Specific Directions for handling and shipping secure test materials.

Links to WIDA Assessment Pages:

Important Instructions for Accessing WIDA Assessment Pages: Please note that on each of the WIDA assessment pages linked below, district staff will need to locate the blue WIDA Secure Portal button and then enter their WIDA login information in order to access My Account and Secure Portal, where the training courses for the assessments are located. Staff will access the training courses by clicking the applicable tiles for given assessments.

• Kindergarten W-APT (K W-APT): This page provides overview information for K W-APT. K W-APT is the screener for potential ELs in kindergarten and first semester-first grade for the 2018-2019 school year. Please note that for the 2018-2019 school year, all K W-APT scores qualify students for EL services, as K W-APT does not share the updated scoring standards shared by WIDA Screener and ACCESS.*

*Important Information Regarding Kindergarten WIDA Screener: Kindergarten WIDA Screener is slated for release in fall 2019. Upon its release, it will replace the K W-APT, and the K W-APT will no longer be supported by WIDA or OSDE. The kindergarten WIDA Screener will share the same (or equivalent) cut score as WIDA Screener. Beginning in 2019-2020, kindergartners and first-semester first graders will again be able to test as not needing EL services. 

• WIDA Screener Online: This page provides overview information for WIDA Screener Online. WIDA Screener Online is the screener for potential ELs in second-semester first grade-twelfth grade. By logging into My Account and Secure Portal and clicking the blue WIDA Screener Online tile, users will be able to access the WIDA Screener Online Quick Start Guide, training course, and the key resource documents needed to administer this screener. 
• WIDA Screener Paper: This page provides overview information for WIDA Screener Paper. WIDA Screener Paper is the screener for potential ELs in second-semester first grade-twelfth grade. By logging into My Account and Secure Portal and clicking the blue WIDA Screener Paper tile, users will be able to access the WIDA Screener Paper Quick Start Guide, training course, and the key resource documents needed to administer this screener.
• Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs: This page provides overview information for Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs, including test preparation materials for both test administrators and students, accessibility and accommodations information, and interpretation guides for this assessment’s scores and reports. Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs is the spring proficiency test for ELs in kindergarten. By logging into My Account and Secure Portal and clicking the green Kindergarten ACCESS tile, users will be able to access the training course and the key resource documents needed to administer this assessment.
• ACCESS for ELLs Online: This page provides overview information for ACCESS for ELLs Online, the spring proficiency test for ELs in first-twelfth grade, including any dually identified ELs served on IEPs/504s who take the regular state content assessments. Resources include test preparation materials for both test administrators and students, accessibility and accommodations information, and interpretation guides for this assessment’s scores and reports. By logging into My Account and Secure Portal and clicking the green ACCESS for ELLs Online tile, users will be able to access the training course and the key resource documents needed to administer this assessment.
• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: This page provides overview information for Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, the spring proficiency test for ELs in first-twelfth grade who are dually identified, served on IEPs, have significant cognitive disabilities, and take the alternate state content assessments. Resources include a QuickStart Guide for Preparing and Administering Alternate ACCESS for ELLs and a link to the Alternate ACCESS Scores and Reports page. By logging into My Account and Secure Portal and clicking the green Alternate ACCESS for ELLs tile, users will be able to access the training course and key resource documents needed to administer this assessment.

SDE ELPA Contact:

Elizabeth Warren, Director of English Language Proficiency Assessments

Yuseli Freire, English Language Proficiency and Monitoring Specialist