ELD Minute
January/ February 2026
ACCESS Testing
What is ACCESS testing and how will this effect me?
ACCESS testing is the WIDA ACCESS for ML's test, an annual English language proficiency assessment for K-12 English Learners (ELs) measuring listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in academic contexts to track progress and determine support. This test is just as important for our language learners as CMAS or any other federally mandated test. This test determines program elegibility and tracks student progress.
Your ELD specialist will contact you with the schedule for your ML's. The test window will start the week after we get back from winter break and will go through February 13th. Please allow for flexibility as the ELD team is testing students from grades k-5, with some testing being one on one. Your ELD specialist will most likely cancel regular group times for a couple of weeks while they complete testing.
Please encourage your students to do their best, eat a good breakfast and get plenty of rest. This test is IMPORTANT! Results will come back in May or close to the end of the year. YOur ELD specialist will provide scores to you, your students and their parents.
It's that time again!
Conferences are coming up in February!
As you prepare for conferences, please take a look at the following article for some tips with your ML families.
REMINDERS!
Accommodations! Don’t forget to make sure you are using the same accommodations in your classroom for your ML’s that they will receive on CMAS and other standardized tests. If you have questions about what these accommodations are, please see your ELD specialist.
More info. Will be coming to you soon about ACCESS testing including dates and specific schedules. STAY TUNED!
2025-2026 District PD Offerings
-to find the page for the DCSD Language & Cultural Equity PD Menu options go to the document tab titled: ‘LCE/ELD/45 clock hours’
Please contact Janette Szabo, jszabo@dcsdk12.org or 720-614-9263 for questions or support related to ELD PD.
Interpretation/Translation information:
NEW Virtual meeting procedures by ARGO:
Argo’s Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) Meeting Procedure:
Schedule the VRI meeting with parents/guardians ahead of time. Let them know they will receive either a text or email invite from Argo.
Navigate to: https://argotrans.videointerp.com/
Enter DCSD Access Code (for virtual interpreters): 1996, then use the Main DCSD PIN: 80017534, not individual school codes on the scheduling page.
After the Interpreter connects, click on the Plus Person button (bottom right of screen) and add in a 'guest'/parent by either their phone or email contact.
Parent/guardian joins the virtual meeting by clicking on their invite link.
You can pre-schedule the Argo video meeting ahead of time -- must be at least 12 hours in advance.
Argo updated Interpretation guide - Video Remote Interpretation Procedure is on page 3
2025_2026 Guidance Document: Interpretation and Translation
Argo’s Telephonic Interpretation procedure is the same.
Contact Janette Szabo, jszabo@dcsdk12.org with any questions or to schedule a Google Meet to review the procedure.