<p> WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test Information </p><p>The WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is being developed to assess students identified as limited English proficient who are students with significant cognitive disabilities. This test is being developed for students with the most severe cognitive impairments. </p><p>According to the WIDA Consortium the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is designed to: </p><p>“(a) meet the accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, (b) meet the technical requirements of the Standards for Educational Psychological Testing (American Educational Research Association (AERA), American Psychological Association (APA), & National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), 1999), (c) facilitate the involvement of ELLs in participating states' accountability systems, (d) provide a method for monitoring the ELP growth of ELLs with significant disabilities, and (e) provide guidance to individualized education program (IEP) teams with developing appropriate ELP IEP goals and objectives. The project Development of the Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessment Procedures for English Language Learners with Significant Disabilities is partially supported by a United State Department of Education Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grant.” As it is currently planned, the Alternate ACCESS will consist of four subtests including listening, speaking, reading and writing. For the alternate version, a portfolio/evidence-based assessment is being developed. This assessment is written to assess student proficiency on the Alternate Model Performance Indicators (AMPIs). WIDA is also documenting processes for further development, such as item writer guidelines. The AMPIs are being expanded with more example topics and the Alternate CAN DO Descriptors are being revised. Alternate Model Performance Indicators (AMPIs) were created to accommodate the three new ELP levels (i.e., Initiating, Exploring, Engaging) assessed by the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs. For additional information on AMPIs visit http://alternateaccess.wceruw.org/tools/AMPIs.aspx</p><p>WIDA is ready to distribute field test materials to school systems that would like to volunteer to participate this fall. Field testing is on a voluntary basis ONLY. To volunteer, contact Jessica Wohlferd at [email protected] or (608) 263-4258 no later than November 17, 2010. Materials will be mailed once demographic information is received by the Alternate ACCESS staff. Plans are to make the test operational for the 2011–12 school-year, depending upon field test participation from WIDA states.</p><p>Visit http://alternateaccess.wceruw.org for more information on the WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.</p><p>NCDPI/Accountability Services/North Carolina Testing Program November 2010</p>