The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and federal and state law require that EL students be assessed every year to measure their proficiency in academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English.  In fulfillment of these laws, EL students participate in ACCESS for ELLs testing each year beginning in January.

DESE assigns Benchmark toward attaining English language proficiency for all ELs. The district uses data from ACCESS for ELLs testing to determine EL Program support. EL services are targeted toward each student’s annual progress in improving English and meeting their Benchmark.