ESL Program Area Updates
Linda Long
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Division of Curriculum
February 6, 2014
Mission for the Education of ELLs
 Provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough
and efficient system of education which includes the
provision of quality, culturally responsive, and
equitable educational programs for English language
learners and assurance of their appropriate participation
in all aspects of the educational system.
 Ensure that its programs will address the needs and
rights of English language learners in all its initiatives
throughout the entire process of planning and
implementation.
Vision for the Education of ELLs
 Promotes the recognition of English language learners
and their parents as cultural and linguistic assets to
the Commonwealth’s global initiatives.
 Is committed to using its Standards Aligned System to
ensure that English language learners receive core
curriculum instruction and achieve high levels of
academic success.
Contents
 ESL Program Requirements
 Annual Assessment of English Proficiency
 Reporting Requirements
 Program Evaluation
 LEP Data
 PIMS March 7 ELL- ACCESS for ELLs Data Collection
 LEP Data Collection
 ESL Professional Development
 ACCESS for ELLs Assessment
 New for 2013-14
 Resources for LEAs
 Title III & Accountability
 PDE Monitoring of Title III Subgrantees
 USDOE’s Monitoring of PDE’s Implementation of Title III Part A
 Technical Assistance
Basic Education Circular
 The purpose of this circular is to provide local education
agencies (LEAs) with the requirements and interpretations
of the legal mandates governing the education of students
with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), also known as
English Language Learners (ELLs). The information included
will be useful in designing, staffing, and evaluating effective
programs for ELLs.
 To access the BEC on the PDE website, click on the link:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pa
_codes/7501/educating_students_with_limited_english_profic
iency_(lep)_and_english_language_learners_(ell)/507356
ESL Program Requirements
Annual Assessment of ELLs
 The annual state ELP assessment of ELLs is required by
federal law. 20 U.S.C. §§ 6311(b)(7),
6826(b)(3)(C),(d)(2)
 The State ELP assessment must be administered
annually to measure progress and/or attainment of the
student’s English language proficiency for each language
domain, i.e., reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Reporting Requirements
 LEAs are required to complete the Pennsylvania
Information Management System (PIMS) and the
Limited English Proficient (LEP SYTEM) annually. PIMS
and the LEP SYSTEM provide data and information on
student numbers, teachers, 22 Pa. Code §4.26, and Title
III .
 PIMS March 7 ELL-ACCESS for ELLs Data Collection
 March 7-14, 2014
 LEP System Data Collection
 March 3-31, 2014
Program Evaluation
 Each LEA must periodically evaluate its language
instructional program to ensure all components are
aligned and working effectively to facilitate the
acquisition of the English language and academic
achievement defined by the PA academic standards.
 Data reported to LEAs from state level assessments of
ELP and academic achievement (ACCESS for ELLs® and
PSSA) must be used in program review and
improvement.
Opportunities for ELLs and their
Educators
 Re-envision the education of ELLs
 Re-define language acquisition and proficiency to include academic
literacy
 Re-examine your program
 Re-align curriculum, instruction, and assessments
Resources:
Effective ESL Programs: Meeting the Challenges and Embracing the
Opportunities (August 21, 2013 webinar)
Recording and power point available on the ESL Portal at the link below:
http://www.eslportalpa.info/index.cfm?pageid=5255
ESL Tool Kit (www.eslportalpa.info, then ESL Toolkit)
Program Development, then Board Approved ESL Policy
Data Systems, then Program Evauation
eMetric Data Interaction Tool
 Includes 2012-13 ACCESS for ELLs data
 E-metric is a dynamic online data tool that houses
assessment results and LEA/student data for the
WIDA Consortium’s English language proficiency
assessment, ACCESS for ELLs.
 Please note: This tool is accessible only through a
secure website
(https://solutions.emetric.net/paaccess/) and users
are reminded of the confidentiality of the system.
 Permission to access this data tool comes through the
superintendent or program administrator.
Superintendents/program administrators may contact
snovakovic@state.pa.us for user ID and password
information.
ACCESS for ELLs Growth Charts
 Measuring growth helps you see how far students have
come compared to where they started.
 Planning opportunities for language learning and utilizing
strengths in one domain to support other domains.
 Helps look at trends or patterns to make improvements
 Resources:
 Focus on Growth (attached)
 WIDA Percentile Growth Charts (attached)
 http://wida.us/assessment/ACCESS/index.aspx?growthreport=1
#scores
 Annual subscription available for ACCESS for ELLs Growth
Reports to show district- and school-level growth trends.
 Your students’ English language proficiency (ELP) growth
over two years is compared to the growth of students
WIDA-wide.
 Contact Metritech at 800-747-4868 (WIDA Support)
LEP Data Collection
Data Related to LEP Students
 Accurate data is essential for federal reporting,
accountability and data analysis purposes
 LEAs are responsible to report accurate data to PIMS
and LEP System
 LEAs’ signature on Accuracy Certification Statement
(ACS) attests that the data contained in PIMS or LEP
System is true and accurate
2013-2014 Required LEP Data
Collections
Data Collected
Window
Templates Required
Purpose
Impact
Student Data
October
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
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Collects data on LEP students in programs
designed for LEP students. This data is used for
federal reporting purposes.
Title III LEP & Immigrant Children & Youth funding
determined by this report
District Snapshot
School Enrollment
Programs Fact
Student
Student Snapshot
School Enrollment
Program Fact
Student
Student Snapshot
Student
Student Snapshot
Program Fact
District Fact
Detailed calendar can be accessed
on the PDE Website
in
Provides student precode labels for the ACCESS
Labels for WIDA ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate
November
for ELLs,
Alternate ACCESS
for ELLs, PSSA
ACCESS
for ELLs assessments are generated from this
Programs >> Programs O-R >>
PIMS
- Pennsylvania
Information
and Keystone test booklets.
collection.
Management System.
PreCode
ACCESS for ELLs
Reporting
Collection
at:
March
7-14,
2014
LEP System
March
3-31,
2014
ELL End of Year
Count
June


NA
Application is online and
accessed through the
PDE Portal.
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Student Snapshot
School Enrollment
Program Fact
Student
District Fact
Collects data on LEP and Title III LEP students
who are administered the ACCESS for ELLs
English Language Proficiency Assessment during
the ACCESS for ELLs test window. This
snapshot is used for federal reporting purposes
and for accountability purposes.
Collects counts of Title III nonpublic students
served. This data is used to determine Title III
allocations.
Collects data on LEP students in programs
designed for LEP students. This data is used for
federal reporting purposes and program
compliance monitoring.
Collects data on LEP, ICY, and Title III students
who were enrolled in a school at any time during
the school year. This snapshot is used for federal
reporting purposes.
ACCESS Test Files are matched to reported LEP
students. Test booklets that do not match demographic
data in PIMS are invalidated for federal reporting and
accountability purposes. Data MUST be accurate.
Failure to report a count of nonpublic students served
may negatively impact Title III funding.
Based on compliance reviews, PDE provides technical
assistance to LEAs.
Reported to Congress. Impacts federal decisions
concerning policy and funding for LEP and Immigrant
students.
PIMS ELL-ACCESS for ELLs Data
Collection
NEW: see Testing Schedule and Special Instructions
for PA 2013-14
 Guidance for reporting students who withdraw during
the testing window
 Guidance for reporting students who transfer during the
testing window
 Guidance for reporting students who newly enroll during
the testing window
 New Program Codes 039-046
LEP System Data Collection
NEW: Transfer of data elements to PIMS (qualitative)
Deleted from LEP
Moved to PIMS
Nonpublic student counts
October 1 Enrollment Snapshot
(district fact template)
Type of Bilingual/ESL
Instruction (core)
November Precode Upload
(programs fact)
Language of Bilingual
Instruction (core)
November Precode Upload
(programs fact)
Chapter 4.26
ELL End of Year (district fact)
Type of Bilingual/ESL
Instruction (Supplemental Title
III)
ELL End of Year (district fact)
Language of Bilingual
Instruction (Supplemental Title
III)
ELL End of Year (district fact)
Budget for Core ESL Program
ELL End of Year (district fact)
Assessments for Entry,
Ongoing, Exit
ELL End of Year (district fact)
Current and Estimated teacher
Counts
ELL End of Year (district fact)
LEP System Data Collection
NEW: Remaining data elements in LEP (narrative)
2013-14 LEP System
Supervisor screen
Title III activities conducted screen
Program questions screen
Evaluation questions screen
Professional Development
2013-2014 ESL Professional
Development Plan
 LEP Data—by PDE staff and WIDA PD Specialists
 Title III—by ESL TA Facilitators and PDE staff
 Improvement Planning—by ESL TA Facilitators, PDE staff, WIDA
PD Specialists
 Assessment—by PDE staff and WIDA PD Specialists
 Instructional Practice —by PDE staff, ESL TA Facilitators, and
WIDA PD Specialists
Event descriptions and registration are
available at www.eslportalpa.info
Data Collection Webinars
Target Audience: PIMS Administrators, PIMS
Coordinators, District Test Facilitators
Collection
Date
Topic
Enrollment
September 17, 18, PIMS Enrollment
24,
Snapshot Training
October 3
Precode
November 4, 5
PIMS
PSSA/ACCESS for
ELLs Precode
Training
ACCESS
February 19, 25
PIMS ACCESS for
ELLs Snapshot
Training
LEP
February 27
LEP System Data
Collection Training
End of Year
June 10, 18
ESL End of Year
Snapshot Training
Title III Webinar Series
 Target Audience: Title III subgrantees and consortia
Date
Time
Topic
May 8, 2014
10 am-12 pm
1:30-3:30 pm
Effective Instruction for
Students with Limited or
Interrupted Formal Education
September 25, 2013
10 am-12 pm
eMetric Data Interaction Tool for
ACCESS for ELLs
Basic User
September 24 January 21
3-4pm
TransACT: An overview of the
Online Tool for Compliance and
Parent Notification
http://www.pdewebinars.org/viewwe
binar.php?id=269
Advanced User
November 19 March 25
http://www.pdewebinars.org/view
webinar.php?id=268
 The following recorded webinars and powerpoints are available on the
ESL Portal at www.eslportalpa.info :
 Title III Application and Approved Activities
 Title III Requirements for Translation/Interpretation, Equitable
Services for Nonpublic Students, Supplement v. Supplant
 Title III Requirements for Effective Applications, Use of Immigrant
Children and Youth Funds, and Parental Engagement
 Title III Monitoring & Compliance Review
ACCESS for ELLs Assessment
2013-2014 Testing Schedule
Task
LEA Test Administrator Training Window
LEAs Order Test Materials
Start Date
End Date
-11/11/13
01/26/14
12/13/13
11/14/13
11/28/13
-01/27/14
--
01/13/14
03/07/14
02/21/14
PIMS ACCESS for ELLS Data Collection
Snapshot Date
--
03/07/14
PIMS ACCESS for ELLs Data Collection
Period
03/07/14
03/14/14
LEAs Ship Completed Materials to
MetriTech
--
03/14/14
PIMS Precode Data Collection period for
ACCESS for ELLs®
LEAs Receive Test Materials
Test Window
Order Additional Materials Deadline
MetriTech Data Validation website open
04/22/14
for corrections
PIMS ACCESS for ELLs Correction Window 04/22/14
PIMS ACCESS for ELLs data corrections
(only for LEAs notified by PDE)
05/12/14
04/25/14
04/25/14
05/15/14
Reports Shipped to District*
Week of 06/09/14*
*Subject to change depending on timeliness of materials returned to
Metritech and accuracy of demographic data in PIMS & Metritech.
NEW for 2014: Test Administrator
Certification Requirements
 All test administrators must certify or recertify on the
group module, which addresses the significant changes
to the administration and delivery of the listening
component.
 Training requirements for 2014 test administration must
be completed between October 7, 2013 and January 26,
2014.
NEW for 2014: Alternate ACCESS
for ELLs
 Alternate ACCESS for ELLs will be operational in PA for
administration during the 2014 ACCESS for ELLs Testing
Window (January 27—March 7, 2013)
 Alternate ACCESS is designed for ELL students who are
significantly cognitively impaired
 Professional development webinar took place November 7,
2013. Recording and materials posted in ESL Toolkit under the
Assessment tab, Summative Assessment:
http://toolkit.eslportalpa.info/index.cfm?pageid=5338
 Penn*Link was released January 2, 2014
Support for LEAs LEAs
Documents
 2014 Administration of
ACCESS for ELLs and
Alternate ACCESS for
ELLs
 2014 ACCESS for ELLs
Test Ordering
 Pennsylvania Criteria to
Determine Participation in
the Alternate ACCESS for
ELLs
Professional Development
Administering ACCESS for
ELLs Kindergarten
Administering ACCESS for
ELLs Grades 1-12
Administering Alternate
ACCESS for ELLs
Test Ordering, Administrative,
and Security Procedures
 Alternate ACCESS for
ELLs Test Administrator
Eligibility Requirements
Available on the ESL Portal (www.eslportalpa.info),
within the ESL Toolkit, under the Assessment tab, in
Summative Assessments.
ACCESS 2.0
 2013-14 Field Test
 March 1-June 30, 2014
 Administer 1 domain (reading)
 2 hour administration per grade cluster
 Selected LEAs identified by CAL and WIDA to participate
have been contacted
 Additional LEAs may volunteer to participate in the field
test
 Training webinars: December 2013 -February 2014
 Contact Paula White at pawhite1@wisc.edu
 ACCESS 2.0 Field Test webpage:
http://assets.wceruw.org/implementation/fieldtest.aspx
 2015-16 Fully Operational
PSSA & Keystone Exams
 Link to accommodations guidelines, power
points, updates, calculator policies, calendar:
 PSSA Assessments
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/com
munity/state_assessment_system/20965/pennsylv
ania_system_of_school_assessment_(pssa)/11905
26
 Keystone Exams
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/com
munity/state_assessment_system/20965/keystone
_exams/1190529
Title III & Accountability
2011-12 Accountability
 Based on 10-11 AMAO Status Reports and 11-12 AMAO
Status Reports
 5 subgrantees in 2 year AMAO IP
 AMAO Improvement Plan Development:
 Notification of the Requirement to develop and implement
an AMAO Improvement Plan based on preliminary 11-12
AMAO Status Reports—January 2013
 Professional development—March 2013
 Submission of AMAO Improvement Plan—May 2013
 Submission of Assurance Statement--June 2013
 Release of 11-12 AMAO Status Reports—July 2013
 Implementation of plans & continued technical assistance
 Attend Data Retreat—April 2013 or March 2014
 Complete Progress Check—February 2014
 Ongoing implementation & evaluation—August 2014
2012-13 Accountability
ESEA Flexibility Waiver targets
In a State that received a waiver of the requirement to make AYP determinations, an LEA is
still held accountable for AMAO 3. However, that accountability is now based on whether the
subgroup of English Learners met its AMOs for reading/language arts and mathematics, the
95% participation rate requirement, and, if the LEA includes one or more high schools, the
State’s graduation rate goal or annual target.
(ESEA Flexibility Frequently Asked Questions Addendum, March 5, 2013)
AMAO 1 and 2
N count is 11 (decreased from 40)
AMAO 3
Indicators:
Participation (95% for ELL subgroup)
4 year graduation rate cohort (85% or 10 % improvement)
Percentage advanced/proficient of aggregate reading/Keystone literature for ELL
subgroup (will include flep monitors 1 and 2, if their inclusion raises score)
Percentage advanced/proficient of aggregate math/Algebra 1 for ELL subgroup (will
include flep monitors 1 and 2, if their inclusion raises score)
Targets: percent advanced/proficient in mathematics: 29.3%
percent advanced/proficient in reading: 16.8%
2012-13 AMAO Status Reports pending
Title III Monitoring by Division of
Federal Programs
 February—May 2014
 Focus on Consortia (Intermediate Units)
Title III Monitoring
 USDOE will monitor PDE’s oversight of Title III Part A
 Scheduled for week of September 22-26, 2014.
 2-3 subgrantees/consortia will be monitored by USDOE
as part of this process.
 For subgrantees/consortia it will involve:
 On site visit
 Submission of documentation 1 month prior to visit
 Selected LEAs will be notified and planning conference calls
with PDE will be scheduled
Technical Assistance
ESL Technical Assistance Protocol
 Level #1: ESL Toolkit
 Level #2: IU ESL Contact
 Level #3: ESL Technical Assistance Coordinator
 Level #4: PDE
ESL Toolkit
 dynamic, user-friendly, readily available, centralized, online repository of
information and resources regarding mandated supports and programming
for English language learners
 legal references
 model documents and forms
 recommended strategies and tools
 PDE guidance and communications
 timetables and contact information
 links to additional resources

Accessible on the ESL Portal at http://www.eslportalpa.info
 DID you know….
 Resources for 2014 administration of ACCESS for ELLs (Assessment
tab, then Summative Assessments)
 Resources for LEP System, PIMS Collections, Program Evaluation (Data
Systems and Program Evaluation)
ESL Technical Assistance Coordinator
 After October 1, 2013
 the provision of technical assistance with primary focus on
priority schools and those Local Educational Agencies
(LEAs) in Title III AMAO Improvement
 working with PDE staff to develop and implement ESL
training opportunities and supportive resource materials
 support PDE staff by providing technical assistance,
conducting site visits, coordinating professional
development opportunities, gathering information and
producing ESL tools and resources to assist in the provision
of instruction to English Language Learners (ELLs).
PDE Staff
Division of Curriculum
 Linda Long | State Title III Director
ESL/Bilingual Education Advisor
lilong@pa.gov
 Tami Shaffer l Education Administration Associate
tshaffer@pa.gov
Division of Federal Programs
 Jesse Fry | Regional Coordinator
jefry@pa.gov
NEW for 2013-14
 Bilingual/ESL Program models are reported in PIMS in
the programs fact template.
 Program codes are listed and described in PIMS Manual
volume 2 appendix F.
 Collaboration between ESL Program Coordinators and
PIMS Coordinators is essential.