ACCESS for ELLs

 ACCESS for ELLs^TM stands for Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners.

ACCESS for ELLs™ is a test designed to measure English language 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: : Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

 The target administration times for each section of the test are:

1. Listening: 20-25 minutes, machine scored
2. Reading: 35-40 minutes, machine scored
3. Writing: Up to 1 hour, rater scored
4. Speaking: Up to 15 minutes, administrator scored

This framework recognizes the continuum of language development within the four domains with five English language proficiency levels.

These levels describe the spectrum of a learner's progression from knowing little or no English to acquiring the English skills necessary to be successful in an English-only mainstream classroom without extra support.

ACT^®

The ACT^®   test assesses high school students' educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. It has two parts:

• The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
• The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.

The ACT^® score is used by many colleges and universities in determining which applicants to accept.

Students can take the ACT as many times as they want. Because of that many students choose to retake the test in order to improve their scores. There are fees associated every time the test is taken.

ELL students that qualify are allowed to take ACT with accommodations. When receiving accommodation:

1. ACT scores will not be reported to the colleges and universities in their junior year
2. However, by using the accommodations, they will become familiarized with the test format, length of the test, and types of questions and essays
3. In the senior year, two waiver forms can be acquired from the student’s guidance counselor in order for them to re-take the ACT exam so their scores can be reported to the colleges and universities. As they retake the exam, they will not be able to use accommodations
4. Of the students who took the ACT more than once, 55% increased their Composite score; 22% had no change in their Composite score; 23% decreased their Composite score.

Differentiated Literacy Battery

The Differentiated Literacy Battery is a set of tests used at district level to evaluate early literacy (reading and writing) development. The test/language used to evaluate a particular student in a particular session depends on his/her score in previous test sessions. The battery is composed by the following tests:

Text Level: F & P or DRA2/EDL2

            Text Level: F & P or DRA2/EDL2

DRA2: Developmental Reading Assessment

EDL2: Evaluación de Desarrollo de la Lectura 2

OS: Observation Survey, which includes CAP, LID, WV

            CAP: Concept of Print

            LID: Letter Identification

            WV: Writing Vocabulary

PSI: Primary Spelling Inventory

ISEL#5: Letter Sound

MAP for Primary

EXPLORE^®

The EXPLORE^® program is designed to help 8th and 9th graders explore a broad range of options for their future. EXPLORE^® prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post–high school choices as well.

EXPLORE^® is made up of four academic achievement tests and other key components:

Achievement Tests

Additional Components

• Why Take EXPLORE^®? Provides helpful information about EXPLORE^® for students and parents, including practical hints for making a successful transition into high school. (Also available in Spanish)
• UNIACT Interest Inventory (72 items) Helps students explore personally relevant career options.
• Needs Assessment - Collects information about students' perceived needs.
• Plans and Background Information- Gathers information about students' school coursework plans, educational and career plans after high school, and other relevant information.

ISAT

The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards. The results give parents, teachers, and schools one measure of students learning and school performance.

MAP

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are state-aligned computerized adaptive tests that reflect the instructional level of each student and measure growth over time.

The assessment itself is unique in that it adapts to the student's ability, accurately measuring what a child knows and needs to learn. In addition, MAP tests measure academic growth over time, independent of grade level or age. Most importantly, the results educators receive have practical application to teaching and learning.

 MAP tests are available in these four subject areas:

• Mathematics
• Reading
• Language Usage
• Science

MAP tests provide highly accurate results that can be used to:

• Identify the skills and concepts individual students have learned.
• Diagnose instructional needs.
• Monitor academic growth over time.
• Make data-driven decisions at the classroom, school, and district levels.
• Place new students into appropriate instructional programs.

PLAN^®

Typically, PLAN^® is administered in the fall of the sophomore year (grade 10).

It is a resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.

As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT.

The PLAN assessment consists of four academic achievement tests and other key components. 

Achievement Tests

Other Components (approximately 65 minutes)

·         Needs Assessment—collects information about students' perceived needs for help

·         High School Course and Grade Information—gathers lists of courses completed, currently being taken, or planned for completion before graduation

·         UNIACT Interest Inventory—helps students explore personally relevant career options

·         Educational Opportunity Service (EOS)—links students with relevant college and scholarship information at no cost to students based on their PLAN information

PSAE

The Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) measures the achievement of grade 11 students in reading, mathematics, science, and writing.

The PSAE includes three components:

1.       The ACT Plus Writing, which includes the ACT battery of four multiple-choice test (English, mathematics, reading, and science) and 30-minutes constructed response writing test with a single prompt question

2.       An ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) developed science assessment

3.       Two WorkKeyes assessments (Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information)

Test Administration Schedule

 SUPERA^®

 Supera is a Spanish-language achievement test that has two parts. One part is Reading and Language Art, and the other part is Mathematics.

The basic skills essential for effective communication--reading comprehension, language expression, vocabulary, and reference skills--are integrated in the Reading and Language Art part.

Each Mathematics test uses real-world topics to engage student interest and encourage mathematics confidence. The use of graphics reduces the need for reading and provides context, ensuring that mathematics is being properly assessed.