ACCESS for ELLs 2.0
Accessibility and Accommodations
Overview for Massachusetts Educators
(Fall 2015)
New computer- and paper-based ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 (“ACCESS”) tests will be administered to English language
learners (ELLs) in the 2015-2016 school year. This publication describes the supports that will be available to students
on the tests, and which students are eligible to receive which supports. For additional information, please contact
Student Assessment Services at access@doe.mass.edu or call 781-338-3625.
BACKGROUND
The accessibility of the new ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 tests has been enhanced by including:
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a range of universal tools and supports within the computer-based test delivery system for use by all students;
corresponding accessibility tools and accommodations for students taking the paper-based ACCESS tests; and
test administration policies and procedures that allow principals broad discretion in adapting group size, scheduling, and testing environments.
This document provides a comparison of computer- and paper-based accessibility options, and an overview of two important resources posted
recently to the WIDA website:
1. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations Guidelines
2. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations Descriptions
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations: Overview for Massachusetts Educators
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
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TEST ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES FOR ALL STUDENTS
Although most students can be tested in their regular classrooms according to the guidelines and schedule intended for all students, Table 1 outlines
the variations in test administration procedures that may be provided to any student, including non-disabled students, at the discretion of the principal
(or designee). Test administration procedures provide flexibility to schools in determining the conditions under which ACCESS can be administered
most effectively. These may be provided regardless of whether the student has a disability, or is participating either in computer- or paper-based
testing. It is advisable (though not required) to include these test administration considerations in the IEPs or 504 plans of students with disabilities.
Table 1. ACCESS Test Administration Procedures available to any student, at the principal’s discretion
ACCESS Test Administration Procedures
Presentation
Read, repeat or explain/clarify test directions in English or student’s native language
Provide verbal praise or tangible reinforcement
Verbally redirect student’s attention to test, in English or in student’s native language
Allow student to take the paper-based test
Response
Student reads test aloud to him- or herself (in separate setting)
Test administrator monitors placement of responses onscreen or in test booklet
Student provides hand-written responses to the online Writing test, instead of a keyboarded response
Test Environment/Setting
Familiar test administrator
Small group/individual
Separate or alternate location
Specified area or seating; study carrel
Adaptive and/or specialized equipment, furniture (seating), acoustics, or lighting
Redirect a student’s attention to the test; use tools/techniques to minimize distractions or maintain focus
Timing/Scheduling
Frequent or additional breaks
Test administered in short segments
Up to 50 percent additional testing time per session (since ACCESS tests are timed)
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations: Overview for Massachusetts Educators
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
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ACCESS ACCESSIBILITY TOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS
Table 2 outlines the ACCESS accessibility tools available to all students participating in the computer-based and paper-based ACCESS tests. Many will
be available as onscreen tools on the computer-based ACCESS tests, or have been incorporated into the accessible design of ACCESS computer- and
paper-based assessments. The following accessibility tools will be available to all students participating in ACCESS.
Table 2. ACCESS Accessibility Tools available to all students
ACCESS Accessibility Tools
Computer-Based Testing
Auditory aids
Paper-Based Testing
Auditory aids
Highlight tool
Highlighters, colored pencils, or crayons
Line guide
Screen magnifier
Color contrast and color overlay
Blank paper
Sticky notes
Place marker or tracking device
Low-vision aids or magnification devices
Color overlay
Blank paper
Equipment or technology that the student
uses for other tests and school work
N/A
Keyboard shortcuts/equivalents
N/A
N/A
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations: Overview for Massachusetts Educators
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
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ACCESS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Tables 3, 4, 5, and 6 indicate the ACCESS accommodations for students with disabilities grouped into four categories: Test Presentation, Test
Responses, Test Environment/Setting Accommodations and Timing/Scheduling Accommodations. For each table, the following is included:
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Whether the accommodation is allowed, and on which ACCESS subdomain tests;
ACCESS accommodations on the computer-based tests that are available to students with disabilities who have the accommodation listed in
their IEP or 504 plan; and
comparable ACCESS paper-based test accommodation (if available).
Table 3. ACCESS Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Test Presentation
ACCESS Test Presentation Accommodations
ACCESS Computer-Based Testing
(Accommodation code)
ACCESS Paper-Based Testing
(Accommodation code)
Listening
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Domains
Reading
Speaking
Interpreter signs test directions in ASL (SD)
Manual control of item audio (MC)*
Manual control of item audio (MC)*
Student may manually start the audio of a prerecorded human voice that is embedded in
certain test item prompts.
The Test Administrator asks the student if
he/she is ready to listen to and then plays the
audio of a pre-recorded human voice that is
delivered via CD for certain test item prompts.
Yes
Yes – only for
Yes
No
Yes
Repeat item audio (RA)*
Repeat item audio (RA)*
Student may manually repeat pre-recorded
human voice that has been embedded in certain
test item prompts.
The Test Administrator asks the student if
he/she is ready to listen to and then repeats a
pre-recorded human voice that is delivered via
CD for certain test item prompts.
Read aloud Listening test response options by human reader (LH)
Repeat Listening test item response options by human reader (RL)
Writing
Yes – repeat
item only once
Yes
Yes – repeat
item only once
online test;
N/A for paper
test
Yes – only for
No
Yes
online test;
N/A for paper
test
No
N/A
N/A
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
Read aloud test items by human reader
(IH)
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
N/A
Repeat test items by human reader (RI)
Yes – repeat
item only once
No
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
Large print version of test (LP)
Braille version of test (BR)
N/A
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
* The accommodations, manual control of item audio (MC), repeat item audio (RA), or extended Speaking test response time (ES), must be pre-selected in order to
be activated within the test items at the time of testing for online administration.
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations: Overview for Massachusetts Educators
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
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Table 4. ACCESS Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Test Responses
ACCESS Test Response Accommodations
ACCESS Computer-Based Testing
ACCESS Paper-Based Testing
(Accommodation code)
(Accommodation code)
Scribed response (SR)
Word processor or similar keyboarding device to respond to test items (WD)
Student responds orally using external augmentative and/or alternative
communication device or software (AC)
Student responds using a recording device, which is played back and transcribed
by student (RD)
Student responds using a braille writer
or Braille notetaker (BW)
Student uses assistive technology to respond to test items (AT)
N/A
Listening
Yes
Yes
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Domains
Reading
Speaking
Yes
N/A
Yes
N/A
Writing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
N/A
Yes
N/A
Yes
N/A
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
Table 5. ACCESS Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Test Environment and Setting Accommodations
ACCESS Test Environment and Setting Accommodations
ACCESS Computer-Based Testing
ACCESS Paper-Based Testing
(Accommodation code)
(Accommodation code)
Test may be administered by school personnel in non-school setting (NS)
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Domains
Listening
Reading
Speaking
Yes
Writing
Table 6. ACCESS Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Timing and Scheduling Accommodations
ACCESS Timing and Scheduling Accommodations
ACCESS Computer-Based Testing
(Accommodation code)
Extended Speaking test response time (ES) *
ACCESS Paper-Based Testing
(Accommodation code)
Student is provided up to twice the recommended testing time to complete the online Speaking test.
Extended testing time within the school day (ET)
Listening
N/A
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Test Domains
Reading
Speaking
N/A
Yes
Writing
N/A
Yes
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations: Overview for Massachusetts Educators
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
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THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE PROVIDED TO ANY STUDENT ON ACCESS TESTS:
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Signing any test to a student who is Deaf
Reading aloud the Reading test to a student
Electronic text reader (text-to-speech) for the Reading test
Bilingual word-to-word dictionaries
UNIQUE ACCOMMODATIONS REQUEST
If a student with a disability or an English learner requires an accommodation that is not listed in the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and
Accommodations Descriptions (i.e., a “unique accommodation”), and that does not fundamentally change what the test is designed to measure, the
school may request approval for use of the accommodation by completing a Unique Accommodations Request Form and submitting it to the
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at access@doe.mass.edu or by fax at 781-338-3630 at least two weeks prior to
testing. If approved by the Department, the accommodation must be listed in the IEP or 504 plan of a student with a disability.
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 Accessibility and Accommodations: Overview for Massachusetts Educators
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
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