ACCESS 

Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State

ACCESS is a standards-based, criterion-referenced English language proficiency test designed to measure English learners' social and academic proficiency in English. It assesses social and instructional English as well as the language associated with language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies within the school context across the four language domains. ACCESS is used to determine the proficiency levels and progress of English Learners (EL) in the domains of Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing. ACCESS for ELLs serves five main purposes. These include:

• determining the English language proficiency level of students;
• providing districts with information that will help them evaluate the effectiveness of their ESOL programs;
• providing information that enhances instruction and learning in programs for English language learners;
• assessing annual English language proficiency gains using a standards-based assessment instrument;
• providing data for meeting federal and state requirements with respect to student assessment.

ACCESS is administered from January through March to all students who are English Language Learners. The assessment is given online. Scores are reported in the four domains and proficiency in six levels: entering, beginning, developing, expanding, bridging, and reaching.