• Each year every active ESOL student is required to take a state test to check for progress in English language skills. This requirement is part of the No Child Left Behind law.
• The ACCESS is now given in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

• This test is very similar to the PSSAs in format. It is a very challenging test that assesses English proficiency in academic language in the domains of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• Students are required to be able to understand and produce academic English in the content areas of Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science.
• It is a standards-based test, addressing the ESOL standards adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

• Mid-February to mid-March, 2012 is the window for administration of the ACCESS.
• Students generally take the test during scheduled ESOL classes, however that is not always possible. In some cases, students will be pulled from other classes in order to complete the test within the testing window required by the state.

When will the results be known?

• Results are expected by the end of school in June, 2012.
• This schedule will be helpful in planning appropriate instruction for your child next year in 2012-2013.
• Parents will receive a print out which explains their child's performance in English as soon as possible after they arrive.

How will the results of this test be used?

• The results will be used to help ESOL teachers make educational and placement decisions about students.
• It is one of several assessments which will be used as "Exit Criteria" for ESOL students. See the page in this site titled "Exit Criteria" for more information.

Other questions? Contact your student's ESOL teacher.