Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Learners, as a way to accurately evaluate the English language skills of students whose families speak a language other than English.
Pennsylvania is one of 39 states that belong to the WIDA consortium that uses ACCESS for ELs.
The WIDA Access Placement Test (W-APT) is administered to all new English Learners.
Students are administered this test only one time. If a student is new to the Meyersdale Area School District but has taken the W-APT in another school district, the results of the first test can be used to determine the English Learner's level of need.
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is administered to all students in grades 3 through 8 and is assessed in English Language Arts and Math. Every Pennsylvania student in grades 4 and 8 is assessed in science. This test is used to determine whether or no schools are successful in helping all students achieve to higher levels.
English Learners are required to take the test regardless of their level of language proficiency; however, reading and writing (Language Arts) scores of students who have been in the United States for less than one year are not factored into the school report.
Some accommodations are allowed to make the test a little more comfortable for test takers. Such accommodations include: extra time, directions read aloud, one-on-one or small group testing setting.
