WESTOVER, MD, December 21, 2023 – Somerset County Public Schools (SCPS) recently held a family event for the system’s multilingual learners at the Somerset County Technical High School (SCTHS). School officials presented information about the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs assessment; the English language proficiency assessment taken annually by SCPS’ English Language Learners (ELLs) receiving English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services. The assessment monitors a multilingual student’s progress in acquiring academic English. Students scoring a 4.5 or above qualify to exit ESOL services where they are then monitored for the next two years for continuity and support. WIDA ACCESS scores are used to provide teachers with information to enhance instruction and learning, and provide school systems with information to assess the effectiveness of programs.
ESOL Department faculty & staff shared information about the assessment’s four domains; Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Interactive learning stations focusing on each assessment domain gave students and families the opportunity to test their knowledge and receive support. Community partners attended to provide resources and materials. The event concluded with the distribution of door prizes.
Lilly Welch, SCPS’ Supervisor of English, ELL and World Languages shared, “SCPS has an excellent ESOL Department that is comprised of ESOL teachers, parent liaisons, tutors, interpreters and translators. Family events like the WIDA ACCESS information night strengthen relationships between school and home, and positively impact student achievement.”
SCPS’ ESOL Department recently hosted the system’s multilingual learners and families at the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Information Night.
An ESOL student receives guidance for a reading comprehension question on the WIDA ACCESS for ELL’s Practice Assessment.
ESOL students practice listening comprehension questions found on the WIDA ACCESS for ELL’s Assessment.
SCPS’ Supervisor of English, ELL and World Languages, Lilly Welch (right), shares information about the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs, an annual assessment of English proficiency for English Language Learners (ELLs) at the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Information Night. Interpreting for the presentation was provided by current and former SCPS students who are multilingual.