ACCESS for ELLs Testing for the school year 2021-2022 will take place from February 1st through March 31st, 2022.

Students in grades K through 12 who qualify for ELL services will be tested in Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

You can find additional information on our ACCESS for ELLs page: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/5338.

Parent Notification - English

Parent Notification - Spanish

Scaffolding Learning professional learning Oct 1st, 2021 resource.

Microaggressions Matter presentation and resources Oct 1st, 2021.

Share your thoughts on the COVID-19 Pandemic & Education

Calling all families & advocates of migratory children, English learners, Alaska Native children, children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care! We need your feedback! COVID-19 has impacted all of us and has interrupted our students' learning. Join the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development for an evening chat to discuss the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and gather your input on the needs of our children.

Please join for a discussion on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Education.

Choose whichever day works for your schedule

• Monday, May 10, 2021 at 6pm
• Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6pm
• Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 6pm

All meetings are accessible here

• Join via Zoom, Click here to join
• Or, join us on the phone by calling this number 888-475-4499 and entering the meeting ID: 850 8067 2200

Share your thoughts with Alaska Department of Education on Thought Exchange

ELL Program Parent Zoom on May 5th at 6 p.m.

Topics: Title III-A grant, Summer Programming, and Literacy Council of Alaska ESL classes for adults.

Link to join:

Please provide input to our school district's Title III-A programming. You can find more information on our Title III-A plan and what are allowable uses of Title III-A grant funds here: 

You can give your input following this link: https://forms.gle/neg25VGNbhvZisbPA 

ELL Program offers two opportunities for ELL eligible students during summer. Both of these programs are free.

Imagine Summer Reading Club for students in grades K-8.

This program meets twice a week from 12 noon to 3 pm at Ryan Middle School on the following days: May 26-27, June 1-2, June 8-9, and June 15-16. This program is offered in person. Parents must provide transportation. Free lunch is available for students.

To apply, please complete the online enrollment form: https://forms.gle/nwZm56qkyB9cFPHA8.

Summer High School ELL English Credit Classes for students in grades 9-12.

Current high school students as well as incoming 9th graders are eligible to apply to take in-person ELL English classes for high school credit. The program meets June 1-24, Monday-Thursday (four days a week), from 9 am-12 noon at Tanana Middle School. Parents must provide transportation. Free lunch is available for students.

To apply, please complete the online enrollment form: https://forms.gle/u1uAH9cciEhgG6Xq6.

For additional information, contact ELL Program Director at virva.elliott@k12northstar.org.

Spring 2021 ACCESS test results will available in PowerSchool the first week of June, under Static Files. Parents will receive paper copies of the test results in August 2021 when school resumes for the school year 2021-2022. If a parent would like to request a paper copy earlier, please contact ELL Program at ELL@k12northstar.org, paper copies can be mailed home upon request starting mid-June. Parents of students who meet the State of Alaska exit criteria from the ELL Program will receive a notification through regular mail in June.

The State of Alaska mandated annual English Language Proficiency Assessment, ACCESS for ELLs, will be administered to all ELL students starting February 1st. The testing window is open until the end of March.

Trained ELL Program staff at schools will be administering the test, the testing dates will vary by school. Students who are eLearning or remote learning will be scheduled specific testing times - ELL staff will contact parents/guardians regarding the specific times. ACCESS for ELLs can not be administered remotely, students will need to come to school for testing.

ELL staff will follow the guidance from the school district and WIDA to ensure a safe testing environment: students will be seated at least 6 feet apart (individual testing can also be arranged), desks will be disinfected between students, and both ELL staff and students are required to wear masks.

ACCESS for ELLs helps teachers to determine the supports ELL students need. For a student to exit ELL in the State of Alaska, the student needs to reach an overall score of 4.5 or above in ACCESS for ELLs. The overall scores range from 1.0 (beginner) to 6.0 (fluent).

Prior to testing, students can take practice tests. You can find the link to practice tests here: Sample ACCESS for ELLs Test Items. You can also find more information about the ACCESS for ELLs assessment here.

If a student misses testing due to COVID-related or other reasons, this will not change the student's eligibility for ELL support services. The student will continue to receive ELL Program support until he/she is able to take the ACCESS for ELLs test and meet the State of Alaska exit criteria (overall score of 4.5 or above).

If you have any questions or concerns regarding testing, please contact the ELL staff at your student's school or Virva Elliott, the Director of ELL Program, at virva.elliott@k12northstar.org or (907) 452-2000 ext. 11467. 

Parents and Educators who are interested in learning more about Imagine Learning:

The Imagine Learning Alaska Support Team is inviting you to participate in a virtual Parent Night via Zoom on September 22nd at 6 p.m.

You can expect to understand how:

1. How the program works behind the scenes

2. What the student experience looks like

3. Strategies to help students get the most out of the program.

4. Where to go for help

Join Zoom Meeting
https://imaginelearning.zoom.us/j/99327279820?pwd=TGxWbEhpL09nQUxiOHp5WnB6bG1Rdz09&from=msft

Meeting ID: 993 2727 9820
Passcode: 782553

Find more information here: https://www.smore.com/nx75y.