Indiana
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2014.
Assessments
Indiana uses Kindergarten W-APT and WIDA Screener (for Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which opens in early January.
Testing Dates
| 12/3/18-3/1/19 | WIDA AMS test setup available for test sessions |
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| 12/14/18 | Districts receive test materials |
| 1/14/19-3/1/19 | Test Window |
| 12/14/18-2/25/19 | Additional test materials ordering window in AMS |
| 3/18/19 | Deadline for shipping completed test materials to DRC |
| 3/25/19-3/29/19 | Pre-reporting data validation – LEAs in AMS |
| 4/25/19 | Districts receive reports – Online |
| 5/6/19 | Districts receive reports – Printed |
Requirements and Resources
See below for state-specific information and resources related to ELL assessment, including your state’s ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, where you can find each step in the ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.
ACCESS for ELLs Checklist State-Specific Directions Identification and Placement Guidance
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State Testing Requirements
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Please refer to Indiana's WIDA page for information about what ACCESS format Indiana is administering in 2018-19. All students in Grades 1-5 will handwrite responses to the Writing test. Again, refer to the table in the Indiana Guidance.
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Test Preparation and Training
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Access to the ACCESS for ELLs training materials is tied to a WIDA Secure Portal account. If you don't have an account or don't have access to the ACCESS for ELLs training materials, please contact your Corporation WIDA Test Coordinator.
Before you can administer ACCESS for ELLs, you will need to log in to the WIDA Secure Portal and complete the ACCESS for ELLs Training Course (Online or Paper, as applicable). After reviewing the training course materials, you need to pass the relevant certification quiz. If you are administering the Speaking component of the paper-based assessment, you also have to take and pass the Speaking Scoring Training module with a score of 80% or higher.
In order to administer Kindergarten or Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, you will need to log in to the WIDA Secure Portal and complete the relevant Training Course, which includes a certification quiz. You must receive a score of 80% on the quiz to be certified to administer that assessment.
Test administrators need to have completed training for each test within two years (24 months) of the date they are administering the test.
Professional Learning
Please visit the Indiana Department of Education’s website for access to a wealth of ELL educator and WIDA-related resources – implementation guides, state and local exemplars, professional development webinars, and training videos.
Indiana is collaborating with the WIDA consortium to provide professional learning for educators. The state-specific webinars can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your Corporation Testing Coordinator or WIDA Test Administrator to request an account.