Minnesota

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 State-Specific Directions

Identification and Placement Guidance

State Testing Requirements

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 Writing Domain Information

While the ACCESS for grades 1–12 is administered primarily online, there are provisions for the writing domain as follows:

• The grades 1–3 writing test is entirely a paper administration. This means students will read prompts and write their responses in a paper test booklet. 
• The grades 4–5 writing prompts are presented to students online and students respond in a writing response booklet. If students in grades 4–5 are competent at keyboarding and wish to respond online, districts can move these students into to a keyboarding test session.
• The grades 6–12 writing test is entirely online. Writing prompts are presented online and students will keyboard their responses.
  • Students in grades 6–12 who are inexperienced, unfamiliar, or uncomfortable with keyboarding may hand-write their responses in a writing response booklet. This decision must be made on an individual student basis and in conjunction with the student. 

Test Preparation and Training

WIDA-required training courses for ACCESS for ELLs Grades 1-12, Kindergarten ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS are available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Additional required trainings for Test Security and Active Monitoring are posted in the Training Management System.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) also offers optional in-person trainings on test administration for District Assessment Coordinators as well as in-person trainings for Test Administrators who administer Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs. Information on ACCESS test administration training for 2019-20 will be posted in the fall.

Requirements for Selecting ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrators

Note: even when a licensed teacher is required, the Test Administrator does not have to have EL licensure or be the EL teacher unless otherwise specified (i.e., for Kindergarten ACCESS, grades 1–12 ACCESS Speaking on paper, and all Alternate ACCESS).

• For the Kindergarten ACCESS, Test Administrators must be licensed teachers. It is strongly recommended that raters of the Speaking domain are trained in second language acquisition. 
• For grades 1–12 of the ACCESS:
  • For the online administration of the grades 1–12 ACCESS, the Test Administrator may be selected using the ranked criteria provided for MCA. 
  • For the paper-based administrations:
    • Speaking domain: The Test Administrator must be a licensed teacher. It is strongly recommended that raters of the Speaking domain are trained in second language acquisition. 
    • All other domains: The Test Administrator may be selected using the ranked criteria provided for MCA. 
• For the Alternate ACCESS, MDE strongly recommends that the Test Administrator is someone who is familiar with the student’s response mode, who works with the student during instruction, and with whom the student feels comfortable. If possible when selecting Test Administrators for Alternate ACCESS, priority should be to select licensed teachers, and for the Speaking domain, staff who are trained in second language acquisition.

Requirements for Training ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrators

• Training Requirements for ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (PDF)

Manuals, Guides and Test Materials

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

• Contains information about responsible test administration practices that help staff make informed decisions about properly administering statewide assessments in your district or charter school. Information specific to administering the ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs can be found in each chapter.

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 for ELLs Paper Speaking Test.

Using the Rater Reliability Calculator - ACCESS Paper Speaking

• A how-to-guide that explains the use of the rater reliability calculator.