ACCESS '24 Debrief by

PDPs for WIDA Screener/ACCESS testing recertification

2024-02-16 15:12:41 UTC

Does any district provide PDPs for EL teachers who have to take the trainings for WS/ACCESS?

Finished

mweiss47 — 2024-02-16 15:12:50 UTC

Snow delays were only minor impacts.

Starting time & Testing culture:

benquist — 2024-02-16 15:15:10 UTC

Trying to insist that all testing started at the same time. Treat is like MCAS (quiet, etc.)

How do you handle HS bigger groups?

mweiss47 — 2024-02-16 15:15:24 UTC

Taking it in ELD class and staying if more time is needed to finish.

Done!

2024-02-16 15:15:25 UTC

We finished and have mailed back!

cohenb23 — 2024-02-16 15:15:35 UTC

Timing went well. 85 students in 2 weeks.

Treated like MCAS, will start at dedicated time, ie, 8:00-10:00AM.

How to treat ACCESS more like MCAS in seriousness and not make up missed work or return to heavy cognitive load in classes?

mweiss47 — 2024-02-16 15:18:23 UTC

2024-02-16 15:18:51 UTC

Push building admin to be involved in ACCESS scheduling. Hopefully get the mindset of treating ACCESS the same way as MCAS.

Prep Posters

2024-02-16 15:19:31 UTC

We used these posters to prepare students. So helpful!

2024-02-16 15:21:40 UTC

Have EL Director/coordinator attend various schools' staff meetings month or so before ACCESS starts to give overview and discuss scheduling etc with rest of the staff.

Is anyone able to standardize across the district? Or, how else do you do it? Willing to share templates or hints?

benquist — 2024-02-16 15:21:55 UTC

How do you do this?

Do you let teachers create their schedules? Do you let them do it by school? Any hints?

How can we communicate with other testing initiatives? "IReady", "MAP" interference? How to message that ACCESS takes precedence

District-wide calendar (shared with Tech)

benquist — 2024-02-16 15:22:42 UTC

Helps to keep tech coverage better managed.

cohenb23 — 2024-02-16 15:22:50 UTC

Organization happens building by building in most cases. Can conflict with other benchmark testing.

Need for messaging to content teachers:

benquist — 2024-02-16 15:24:50 UTC

Example: "I missed the Chemistry test and have to come after school." Kids might rush a test and do poorly (affecting data). This is a real struggle.

Ensure common messaging and proctoring of note-taking.

benquist — 2024-02-16 15:30:38 UTC

Allowing scratch paper on speaking test, but how to ensure that proctors maintain common messaging and practicing.

Maybe have proctors sign a document stating they will clarify the common practicing document.

Buy-In from HS Students

2024-02-16 15:40:05 UTC

How to convince high school students, esp 11-12 graders, that this is important and deserving of their best efforts?

mellcfacilitator — 2024-02-16 15:46:12 UTC

Undergraduate Admissions Standards for the MA State University System and the University of MA https://www.mass.edu/foradmin/admissions/documents/DHEAdmissionsStandardsReferenceGuide_2019.pdf

P. 8 speaks to EL students