ACCESS for ELLs

Federal law requires that each state administer an annual assessment for English language proficiency. Georgia has adopted the ACCESS for ELLs suite of assessments to satisfy the federal requirement.

The ACCESS test will be administered to all English language learners in grades K-12. Student language proficiency in listening, reading, writing and speaking will be assessed.

As directed by the Georgia Department of Education, Forsyth County Schools will administer the ACCESS assessment between January 11 and March 3, 2023. Each school will create their own testing schedule within the state window.

Explanation of Assessments

• The kindergarten assessment is an individualized assessment with the ESOL teacher and the student.
• Grades 1-12 will take the assessment online in small groups. There are four domains to the test (listening, reading, speaking, writing) and will be given over multiple days.
• Grades 1-3 will do the writing portion of the assessment paper/pencil.
• Alternate ACCESS is an assessment designed for English language learners who take the GAA assessment. This is an individualized assessment.

Federal law requires all students take the state's annual English language proficiency assessment. There is not an option for students to take the ACCESS test at home. Students will need to come to school to take the assessment. Your School Test Coordinator will contact you with a testing schedule for your child.