AZELLA DTCs

AZELLA

The Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA) is a standards-based assessment that meets both state and federal requirements to measure students’ English language proficiency. AZELLA is used for both placement and reassessment purposes. The AZELLA is administered to eligible Kindergarten through Grade 12 students.

The AZELLA District Test Coordinator (DTC) is responsible for all the AZELLA Assessment administrations - the year-round AZELLA Placement Test and the annual Spring Reassessment Test.

This web page is dedicated to the administration, scoring, and reporting of the AZELLA tests.

AZELLA FAQs     Placement Test FAQs      Reassessment Test FAQs

AZELLA Calendars

 

 

AZELLA 2023-2024 Test Administration Windows

  • 2023-2024 Placement Test administration window: opens on the district's first student instructional day of the school year and runs throughout the school year ending on May 10, 2024. Districts and charters may use ADE's approved 2-calendar week jump start before the first instructional day to begin Placement testing only when the DTC, STC, and TAs have completed requirements for the AZELLA Placement Test administration.

 

  • Spring 2024 Reassessment Test administration window: January 29 - March 15, 2024

AZELLA Important Notices

All Arizona districts and charters must submit the 2023-2024 Assessment Test Coordinator and Security Agreement (TSA) form to [email protected] by June 30, 2023.

 

AZELLAology

AZELLAology is an open invitation for our AZELLA District Test Coordinators (DTC) to attend a virtual customer service call using the Microsoft Teams application (camera is not required) where ADE's Assessment AZELLA Team answers your AZELLA questions and shares AZELLA important information, news, guidance, and mini-tutorials about a variety of AZELLA-related topics. ADE's AZELLA Team shares our live screen to coach you through different AZELLA applications, reports, systems, and other AZELLA topics. AZELLAology attendance is not a requirement, but if you see a topic that interests you, please plan to attend. AZELLAology is very informative and AZELLA DTCs have found the sessions to be valuable.

Each live video call is accessed through the Microsoft Teams application. The optional video call will be up to one hour and focused on specific AZELLA topics. We will answer individual session specific questions during this hour. We value your time; therefore, we cannot ensure all questions will be answered within the session, but we will provide details on how to reach us if your question is not addressed during the session. These AZELLAology video calls are informal and not recorded.

All scheduled AZELLAology sessions, unless otherwise noted, begin at 8:00am and end at 9:00am.  Your first connection to AZELLAology will take to you a web page (https://teams.microsoft.com) for Microsoft Teams. The Microsoft Teams application can be accessed by 1) Downloading the Windows app, 2) Using Microsoft Teams through the current web browser without downloading anything, or 3) Open your desktop/phone/tablet app from Microsoft Teams.

Click here to join the AZELLAology Session

After you click on the above button, or use the link below, before the session starts you will be placed into a waiting room and then granted access after you are verified by one of our team members.

(teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MTllMWJhNTktMThmMi00OWU0LWE1ZjMtYmZjMTMyMTY0OGYx%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2258a5b0cb-441f-42ba-a5a1-8fdfd05a3ffc%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22154367f7-d664-4917-9581-9b81d8602473%22%7d)

AZELLAology Monthly Scheduled Sessions

Next Scheduled Session Topics

 

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 @ 8:00 - 9:00am

  • EL70 Report
  • NEW Grade 1 Placement and Grades K-1 Reassessment Unit 5 Speaking Test Administrations (begins in January 2024)
  • 2022-2023 Placement and Spring 2023 Reassessment Reports and Student Data Files from Pearson
  • Your Questions

AZELLA Information and Guidance 

AZELLA Information

AZELLA Placement Test Logic Flow Chart

Eligibility for the AZELLA Placement Test  - NEW 

AZELLA Placement Test Administration Compliance Time Frames

AZELLA Proficiency Determination and Domain Scale and Cut Scores - UPDATED 8.09.2023 
Spring 2023 Reassessment and 2023-2024 Placement

AZELLA Proficiency Scale and Cut Scores (Placement Test SY 2022-2023)

AZELLA Assessment (web page about the AZELLA)

AZELLA Sample Tests - all grades; paper and online

ADEConnect Account

All AZELLA District Test Coordinators are required to have an ADEConnect account, and the role of "AZELLA District Test Coordinator" must be requested. 

For access to ADEConnect, you will need to contact your district/charter ADEConnect Entity Administrator and request to have the AZELLA District Test Coordinator role assigned to you. If you do not know who your ADEConnect Entity Admin is, you can contact Constituent Services at 602.542.7378 so they can verify.

There is only one (1) designated role of “AZELLA District Test Coordinator” in ADEConnect for each district. All others may have the role of “ELL” in ADEConnect.

ADEConnect Entity Administrator, please follow the instructions in the ADEConnect Entity Administrator Manual. Here is the direct link:
 https://cms.azed.gov/home/GetDocumentFile?id=57915b0caadebe0330cb928c

  1. Refer to page #4 to create a new user account.  
  2. Refer to page#7 to add the relationship for each “Entity” (district #4215; and school #4877)
  3. Refer to page#9 to add each “Role” (AZELLA District TC. EL, Entity Admin …etc.)

Any questions related to ADEConnect, please Contact the Arizona Department of Education.

To find the district or charter’s ADEConnect Entity Admin please follow this link:  https://adeconnect.azed.gov/FindEA

PearsonAccessnext (PAN)

PearsonAccess Next is a secure AZELLA test management site. All AZELLA District Test Coordinators are required to have a PAN account.

AZELLA DTC PAN accounts are enabled by ADE and Pearson after all Annual and AZELLA test administration training requirements have been completed and verified by ADE.

The Pearson Placement PAN User's Guide is located inside PAN > Support > Documentation. It's the first document listed.

Pearson has provided several Quick Guides (extracted from the PAN User's Guide) on the AZELLA PAN home page under the Links section. These are step-by-step directions for completing specific tasks in PAN.

 

Locating a Speaking Test Lithocode in PAN

Creating a Unique 11-Digit SSID Number for Private School Students in PAN for AZELLA Testing

 

AZELLA Lithocode Exchange Form (Telephone Speaking Tests) for all AZELLA test administrations

  • Kindergarten Reassessment Test
  • Grade 1 Placement and Reassessment Test

 

2023-2024

AZELLA Placement Student Registration File Layout and Template 2023-2024 (this is not required)

 

AZELLA Placement 2023-2024 PAN User File Layout and Template (to update and add new User PAN accounts) (Not required) 

 

AZELLA EL/SPED Test Administration Information

AZELLA Accommodations Manual 2022

EL and Special Education FAQ September 2021

AZELLA - Domain Scoring July 2021

Special Update - ELs with Disabilities May 2019

AZELLA Guidance for Students Who are Completely Deaf and/or Blind - please contact the AZELLA Team at [email protected] 

Identifying and Supporting English Learners with Disabilities 2019 Revised Aug-2019

 

AZELLA EL/SPED Accommodation Request Form for 2023-2024

This request form is for one student for both the AZELLA Placement Test and the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test. Students must have a current IEP or 504 Plan. Additional Accommodations for AZELLA Tests must be requested annually.

All requests MUST be submitted and approved by ADE prior to administering the AZELLA Test to the student. One submission, per student, will cover all AZELLA Test administrations for the current school year for the student. 

 

 AZELLA Additional Accommodations Request Form 2023-2024 - DUE to ADE by August 31, 2023

 

AZELLA Large Print (LP)

for Paper AZELLA Test Administrations

  • Kindergarten (Reassessment only)
  • Grade 1
  • Grades 2-3 (Unit 4 only) 

 

AZELLA Special Paper Version (SPV) 

for both AZELLA Online Test Administrations

  • Grades 2-12 Special Paper Version
  • Grades 2-12 Large Print of the Special Paper Version

 

AZELLA American Sign Language (ASL)

for all grades and both AZELLA Test Administrations

  • ASL videos for directions and accessibility elements

       

         ELP Braille

for all grades and ONLY for the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Test Administration for the 2023-2024 school year

     

         Alt ELPA 

for students who qualify for the Alt ELPA and ONLY for the Spring 2024 Alt ELPA Test Administration - questions must be addresses with YOUR district's Alternate Assessment DTC

  • Students must have one of the following
    • An AZELLA Placement Test from the 2022-2023 school year with an Overall Proficiency Level that is less than proficient, OR
    • An Alt ELPA test from the Spring 2023 Reassessment Test administration with an Overall Proficiency Level that is less than proficient , OR
    • An AZELLA Placement Test from the 2023-2024 school year with an Overall Proficiency Level that is less than proficient
  • If the student does not have one of the above, then a new 2023-2024 Placement Test must be administered and the Additional Accommodations form may need to be submitted for the Placement Test.

 

Alt ELPA

Alt ELPA (ADE) Web Page

 

 Alt ELPA Project • (https://altelpa.org/)

Accessibility and Accommodations Wishlist (UCLA) (PDF) • (https://ucla.app.box.com/s/znhulqn820ims93v1xd8q5tesoozhlzz)

English Language Proficiency Standards for English Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (UCLA) (PDF) • (https://app.box.com/file/596477284015?s=fd82746xcj3a57dud1rxck399d85bktl)

Alternate Assessment Participation Guidelines and Eligibility Determination • (This document is under review.) Use this for talking points.

The AZELLA online tests are administered through PearsonAccessnext (PAN) and TestNav, both are Pearson systems. The Test Administrator manages the students' tests through PAN, and the students complete their test using TestNav. There are no testing materials such as a Student Test Book or Answer Document; however, the Test Administrators must use the Test Administration Directions (TADs) that are only available electronically through PearsonAccessnext and the AzLMS. The TADs may be downloaded and printed, and they must remain on campus or at the district office at all times.

Online Testing - Student Sample Tests Available in TestNav

Arizona Online Sample Tests and Assessment Tutorials

  • AZELLA Sample Tests information

  • AZELLA Online Sample Tests and Assessment Tutorials

  • The TestNav application must be downloaded to a computer or electronic device. 

  • Once TestNav has been downloaded and set-up, open the application and then select the Mic Check & Sample Tests link.

  • Usernames and Passwords are NOT required for the Online Sample Tests.

Setting Up TestNav

Other Online Test Administration Information

August 26, 2022 Webinar

AZELLA Results

AZELLA DTCs receive 2 paper copies of Pearson's Individual Student Reports (ISR) (blue) and 1 copy of the new AZELLA Family Report Guide for students who have been tested with the AZELLA Placement and the Spring AZELLA Reassessment Tests:

  • 1 copy of the ISR must be placed in the students' cumulative files

  • 1 copy of the ISR and 1 copy of the AZELLA Family Report Guide must be distributed to the parent(s)

Spring 2023 AZELLA Reassessment Results

The electronic results were posted in PAN on July 6, 2023.

Enrolling Eligible Students in EL Program Services 

Enrolling students in EL Program Services is completed through your Student Information System and then synchronized to AzEDS. Please contact Micky Gutier, in OELAS, with specific questions regarding enrolling and exiting students from EL Program Services. 

  • Students must have a "current" AZELLA record. "Current" means dated during the current school year or the prior school year. For the 2023-2024 school year, the AZELLA record must be dated during the 2023-2024 school year or the 2022-2023 school year.

    • The current AZELLA record must have an Overall Proficience Level (OPL) of less than proficient (e.g., Pre-Emergent/Emergent, Basic, Intermediate, or a combination of those levels)
    • The current AZELLA record must show a status of "Eligible for EL Services"

State Assessment Results and A-F Letter Grades

Accountability 

The 2023 state EL reclassification rate will be published by ADE's Accountability Division in October 2023.

Accountability Questions? Contact the Accountability Unit at [email protected].

AZELLA Forms and Reports

DTC Test Security Agreement Form

 

AZELLA Test Security Agreement Form

  • 2023-2024 AZELLA Test Security Agreement - for AZELLA staff - do not send the completed agreement forms to ADE, AZELLA DTCs must keep these forms in a secure location at the district office for 6 years

 

Student Privacy - FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. This law applies to all schools that receive U.S. Department of Education funds under applicable programs, including the states' English Language Proficiency assessments such as AZELLA.

AZELLA materials may contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and sensitive information about a student’s educational background and historical performance. As such, we are all responsible for protecting and securing AZELLA materials to prevent the accidental disclosure of the information they contain.

Do not include students' names and/or date of births in the body of emails. Use their State Student Identification (SSID) number. When images are included in the body of emails, all student identifiable information except for the SSID number must be extracted or blacked-out before adding the image to the email.

AZELLA Test Security and Ethics Incident Report

 

AZELLA Test Administration Irregularity Report

AZELLA EL Reports

AZELLA EL Reports are accessed through ADEConnect > Applications > Assessments > AZELLA Reports

How to Read the EL70 - ELP Student History Report [available Fall 2023]

How to Read the EL72 - ELP Test Roster Report [available Fall 2023]

How to Read the EL73 - EL Student Need Report 

Guide to Navigating and Using AZELLA Reports  [available Fall 2023]

Before, During, and After AZELLA Administration Forms 2023-2024

AZELLA Quality Assurance Checklist for Test Security and Ethics - DTC

AZELLA Quality Assurance Checklist for Test Security and Ethics - STC

AZELLA Quality Assurance Observation Checklist of an AZELLA Test Administrator or Proctor

Student Testing Logs

You may edit the Student Testing Logs to meet your needs; however, when ADE requests your testing logs, the information included in these provided Student Testing Logs must be included when submitted to ADE. Do not include student names and date of births on Student Testing Logs that are submitted to ADE.  

 

2023-2024 PLACEMENT Test Administration

  • KPT Student Testing Log - there will not be a required KPT Student Testing Log (all information is on the KPT Response Sheet)
  • Placement Student Testing Log - Paper/Telephone Grade 1 Excel  |  PDF
  • Placement Student Testing Log - Online/Paper Grades 2 - 3 Excel  |  PDF
  • Placement Student Testing Log - Online Grades 4 - 12  Excel  |  PDF

 

Spring 2024 REASSESSMENT Test Administration

  • Spring 2024 Reassessment Test Student Testing Log - Hybrid (Paper/Online) Grades KG - 1  Excel  |  PDF
  • Spring 2024 Reassessment Test Student Testing Log - Hybrid (Online/Paper) Grades 2 - 3  Excel  |  PDF
  • Spring 2024 Reassessment Test Student Testing Log - Online Grades 4 - 12  Excel  |  PDF

Student Data File (SDF) Layouts

These layouts do not have any student data included. The district's Student Information System (SIS) (i.e., Synergy, PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, etc.) administrator/IT needs to have the layouts prior to uploading the Student Data Files (SDF) (contains student information) from each test administration into your SIS. The SDF Layouts are always available in PearsonAccessnext for the specific test administration.

There are 2 specific AZELLA test administration layouts. One is for the AZELLA Placement Tests and one is for the AZELLA Reassessment Test. They are different layout files!

Using the Student Data Files that are provided by Pearson is optional. If your district/charter intends to use the Student Data Files provided by Pearson (not ADE) for your Student Information System, you must use the Student Data File Layouts as well. 

Download one copy of the Layout file (by test administration) and forward the file UNOPENED to your SIS Administrator.

 

2022-2023 AZELLA Test Administrations

 

2023-2024 AZELLA Test Administrations

 

  • Spring 2024 Reassessment Student Data File Layout EXCEL (.CSV) [January 2024]
    • (to be used with the Spring 2024 Reassessment Test Student Data Files)

English Language Proficiency Attestation

All AZELLA District Test Coordinators, School Test Coordinators, and Test Administrators must attest to being proficient in English prior to any AZELLA test administrations. AZELLA DTCs must keep this form and provide it to ADE upon request.

English Language Proficiency Assessment Administrator Attestation 2023-2024 (Updated 07/13/2023)

 

Lithocode Exchange Form

AZELLA Lithocode Exchange Form (Telephone Speaking Tests) for all AZELLA test administrations

  • Grade 1 Placement Test only

Completed and signed documents MUST be placed in the student's cumulative file.

AZELLA Placement Test Referral Forms

2023-2024

AZELLA Kindergarten Reassessment Test Referral Form

  • AZELLA Kindergarten Reassessment Test Referral Form - Moving from Mainstream to EL Service [coming January 2024]

AZELLA Trainings and  Qualifications

AZELLA Training Requirements by AZELLA Role Matrix 2023-2024

The AZELLA Annual, Placement, and Understand Scoring training modules include a downloadable correlating PowerPoint and Transcript. We recommend that you download these, especially newer District and School Test Coordinators and Test Administrators. These will be a helpful resource that you can refer to throughout the school year, and they can be used as you complete the final quizzes associated with each module that must be passed with 80% correct.

Arizona Learning Management System (AzLMS)

AzLMS - click here AFTER you've created your account

AZELLA DTCs will receive an invitation from Adobe Learning Manager [email protected], with the subject as, "Welcome to Arizona’s Learning Management System: Verification required." You must use the link provided in the invitation to create your AzLMS account. Please be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folder for this invitation from Adobe. 

All AZELLA DTCs have 2 profies. One is a Manager so that you can access course completion reports for your district. The other is Learner. the Learner profile is where you need to complete your trianing courses. You can switch between your roles by clicking on the role under your user profile in the upper right corner of the screen next to the bell.

ADE highly recommends that users review the LMS Catalog courses to learn how to use and navigate the AzLMS platform.

 

Select the Catalog icon from the far left screen (3 lines or hamburger), then select the catalogs (AZELLA Annual and AZELLA Placement (LMS catalog is also in this section)), and finally select your role as noted in the TAGS. Click on the courses, based on the AZELLA Training Requirements by AZELLA Role matrix to enroll in the courses.

 

Getting Started in the AzLMS

 

There are 3 catalogs for the AZELLA training modules.

  1. Annual - completed at the start of the school year
  2. Placement Test Training - completed at the start of the school year
  3. Reassessment Test Training - completed in January

 

AZELLA staff roles (aka "Tags"):

  • AZELLA District Test Coordinator (DTC) (there is only one AZELLA DTC per district) (this role does not need to select additional roles)
  • AZELLA School Test Coordinator (this role does not need to select additional roles)
  • Technology Coordinator
  • AZELLA Test Administrator
  • AZELLA Data Entry (ONLY for the AZELLA Placement Test administration for the data entry of the KPT and the scores of the extended Writing responses for Grade 1 and Grades 2-3)
  • District Only Reports and School Only Reports
  • Proctor/Other Staff

 

 

Annual (Year-round) AZELLA Training

These Annual training modules are applied to all AZELLA Test administrations and must be completed once per school year and prior to any AZELLA test administration.

July 7, 2023

  • Test Security and Ethics 
    • required: ALL AZELLA roles
  • AZELLA Basics
    • required: AZELLA DTCs and STCs
  • AZELLA Technology
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Technology Coordinators
  • AZELLA Reports and Corrections
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and District and/or School Report Access Only in PAN
  • PAN
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, TAs, and those with the PAN role of Data Entry for AZELLA
    • this is a branched training module which means the User will follow their AZELLA role only

AZELLA Placement Test Administration Training

Start of the school year training modules - July 7, 2023

  • AZELLA DTC-STC Placement
    • required: AZELLA DTCs and STCs
  • KPT
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Kindergarten students
  • Grade 1 Placement 
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Grade 1 students
  • Grades 2-3 Placement 
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Grades 2 and 3 students
  • Grades 4-12 Placement Administration
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Grades 4-12 students

Understand Scoring Training and Qualifications (Kindergarten - Grade 3)

Opens July 3, 2023 for the 2023-2024 School Year

Start of the school year additional trainings and qualifications for Districts and Charter Schools that Serve Grades KG, 1, 2, and 3 - AZELLA Placement Test Administration only

Understand Scoring is a secure site. All materials from this site are secure test materials and must be treated as such - always!

Available in Pearson's Understand Scoring system platform

  • Required training and qualifications for:
    • AZELLA DTCs and STCs who will be administering the KPT
    • AZELLA DTCs and STCs who will be scoring the extended Writing responses for Grade 1 and/or Grades 2-3 students
    • AZELLA KPT Administrators
    • AZELLA Grade 1 and Grades 2-3 Writing Scorers

 

 

  • KEYWORD to create a new account is 2324azella (case sensitive and no spaces).

Spring 2024 AZELLA Reassessment Test Administration

Available in the Arizona Learning Management System (AzLMS) January 2024

  • AZELLA DTC-STC Reassessment
    • required: AZELLA DTCs and STCs
  • K-1 Reassessment 
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Kindergarten and Grade 1 students
  • 2-3 Reassessment 
    • required: AZELLA DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Grades 2 and 3 students
  • 4-12 Reassessment Administration
    • required: DTCs, STCs, and Test Administrators with schools that serve Grades 4 through 12 students

Presentations and Useful Web Links 

  • PearsonAccess Next - AZELLA test management system

  • Arizona Learning Management System (AzLMS) 

  • Understand Scoring Keyword = 2324azella for KPT Administrator training and qualification and Placement Test Grade 1 and Grade 2-3 Writing Scorer training and qualification

 

Contact Information 

The AZELLA Inbox ([email protected]) should be your first contact concerning AZELLA questions. All questions concerning AZELLA training modules, AZELLA test administration, students eligible and required to test, test administration schedules, test irregularities, AZELLA test records, and any issues that arise during test administration should be sent to the AZELLA Inbox. The AZELLA Team is able to respond to you much faster through email. We strive to respond with 1 business day to all emails and voice mails. ADE is closed on the weekends and all holidays.

 

High Importance – For issues that arise during actual student testing, send an email to the AZELLA Inbox and indicate in the subject line “Students Testing – Need Help.” Mark your email with a High Importance tag. Include a phone number that we can return contact with you if necessary. ADE will respond as quickly as possible. Do not leave a voice message as these calls are not responded to as quickly as emails. In your email include any error message or code that the student or TA is receiving.

 AZELLA Inbox

 AZELLA Inbox 

Brenda Vanderwerp | AZELLA State Test Coordinator 602.542.5031

Gabriela Finn | Director of English Language Assessments 602.542.5031

Sandra Guthrie | AZELLA Program Project Specialist 602.542.5031