Minnesota
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2010.
Assessments
Minnesota uses the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten, and WIDA Screener (for second semester of grade 1 through grade 12) to identify multilingual learners for English learner (EL) status. The Kindergarten W-APT and WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten may also be used through August 31, 2022.
ACCESS for ELLs or Alternate ACCESS for ELLs must be administered to all ELs in grades K-12 during the annual testing window, which typically takes place from late January to late March.
Testing Dates
| 11/29/21-12/17/21 | Indicate the number of online testers for grades 1-12 and order test materials during Materials Ordering in WIDA AMS |
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| 12/17/21 | MDE sends student data in precode for loading students into WIDA AMS and printing student labels |
| 1/10/22-3/25/22 | Complete administration tasks in WIDA AMS |
| 1/21/22 | Receive paper test materials and student labels |
| 1/21/22-3/18/22 | Order additional paper test materials in WIDA AMS |
| 1/31/22-3/25/22 | Testing window |
| 4/1/22 | Deadline to ship paper test materials to DRC |
| 5/23/22 | Retrieve early student level results in Test WES |
| 5/23/22 | Posttest editing in Test WES |
| TBD | Online reports available in WIDA AMS |
| TBD | Student reports arrive in district |
Resources and Requirements
See below for state specific information and resource documents, 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 Identification and Placement Guidance
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State Testing Requirements
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English Language Proficiency Screener Testing Information
- Screening for English Language Proficiency
- Use an ELP screener when the Minnesota Language Survey (MNLS) indicates that the student speaks or understands a language other than English.
- If the student is transferring from a Minnesota district or a WIDA state, then only use a screener if the student does not have an ACCESS score from the previous year.
- ACCESS test results for students that were tested in Minnesota are available in MDE Secure Reports using the Student Assessment History Report.
Kindergarten W-APT and Kindergarten MODEL
- Use listening and speaking domains in 1st semester of Kindergarten and if using with 4 year olds.
- Use all four domains in 2nd semester of Kindergarten and in 1st semester of Grade 1.
- Accommodations are available as required by a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
WIDA Online and Paper Screener
- Use second semester of Grades 1-12.
- Accommodations are available as required by a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS
The ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS are used to measure progress towards meeting the WIDA English Language Development Standards. Test administration and test security policies are detailed in the Procedures Manual for the Minnesota Assessments. Refer to Test Administration Considerations for ACCESS in Chapter 8 for administration details specific to Minnesota.
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Test Preparation and Training
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Each year, Test Administrators are required to be trained before administering the ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.
WIDA-required training courses for grades 1–12 ACCESS, Kindergarten ACCESS, and Alternate ACCESS are available in the WIDA Secure Portal.
Additional required MDE trainings for test security and active monitoring are posted in the Training Management System.
Requirements for Selecting ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrators
Refer to the Guidance on English Learner Instruction during ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Testing for information related to ensuring EL instruction continues during the testing window.
Requirements for Training ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrators
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Manuals, Guides and Test Materials
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Minnesota English Learner Screener Guidance
- Contains state-specific guidance on identification and placement of ELLs in Minnesota, including information about the use of Kindergarten W-APT, WIDA MODEL (for Kindergarten), and WIDA Screener.
Using English Language Proficiency Screeners in Minnesota
- Contains state-specific guidance on Screener assessment administration, including Q&A and links to resources.
Procedures Manual for Minnesota Assessments
- This manual is Minnesota's main resource for statewide testing policies and procedures, containing information on test administration, test security, and use of results. District Assessment Coordinators are the primary audience but chapters or sections may be referenced and used by any staff involved in testing.
ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS Irregularities 2021-22 (Coming soon)
- This document outlines some situations or mis-administrations that may occur during ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS testing and require action by the district, MDE, or DRC.
WIDA AMS Supplement - Submit Incomplete Domain
- This supplement describes the Submit Incomplete Domain process and functionality.
Rater Reliability - ACCESS Paper Speaking
- A guidance document that explains what rater reliability is, why it is important, and how it can be achieved.
Rater Reliability Calculator - ACCESS Paper Speaking
- A tool to report rater reliability statistics for raters who administer and score the ACCESS Paper Speaking test.
Using the Rater Reliability Calculator - ACCESS Paper Speaking
- A how-to-guide that explains the use of the rater reliability calculator.
Standards and Instructional Support
Minnesota Standards Alignment Report (PDF)
- Presents the results of an alignment study conducted in 2011 to examine the relationship between the Model Performance Indicators (MPIs) contained in the WIDA English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards 2007 Edition, and the Minnesota Academic Standards in Math and Science.
English Language Development Standards Implementation (PDF)
- Provides guidance and support to educators as they implement the WIDA ELD Standards.
Professional Learning
How MN District Staff Can Access WIDA eLearning Courses 19-20
- This document explains how teachers and other staff can request WIDA eLearning permissions from their District Coordinator for WIDA eLearning. Instructions are also provided to help districts and charter schools identify and set up district-wide accounts for new eLearning coordinators so they can generate account permissions for any staff member with a district or charter school e-mail address.
District Learning Coordinator Account Creation Guide
- District Learning Coordinators can follow the directions in this document to create accounts in the WIDA Secure Portal.
- An overview of the eLearning workshops that will be available in 2019-20.