Delaware
Founding member of the WIDA Consortium since 2003.
Assessments
Delaware uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener Online (for Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). WIDA ACCESS is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which typically takes place from early February to late March.
Testing Dates
| 1/7/27 - 3/12/27 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
|---|---|
| 1/20/27 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/25/27 - 3/12/27 | Test Window |
| 1/20/27 - 3/5/27 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA |
| 3/15/27 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 4/28/27 | Districts Receive ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 5/17/27 | Districts Receive Printed ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports |
| 6/9/27 | Updated ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Data - Posted in WIDA AMS for SEA and Districts |
Requirements and Resources
See below for state-specific information and resources related to ELL assessment, including your state’s WIDA ACCESS Checklist, where you can find each step in the ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.
WIDA ACCESS Online Checklist WIDA ACCESS Paper ChecklistIdentification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Requirements
Delaware's ELLs in Grades 1–12 will take WIDA ACCESS Online. The Delaware Department of Education requires ELLs take the online version except in cases where online testing is not technologically feasible, or if the paper version is needed as an accommodation. If there is a reason a district will need to consider the paper version (i.e. district lacks the necessary technology infrastructure for a successful administration), a district must submit a KACE Help Desk ticket through their district or charter test coordinator for permission.
Note: WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten and the WIDA Alternate ACCESS will remain paper-based.
Delaware's 4th and 5th grade students will keyboard their responses to the Writing test.
- Test Preparation and Training
- Administrators of the paper-based test should note that if they are scoring Speaking, they will need to complete the Speaking scoring training and quiz(zes).
- To access the Test Administrator Training Course, please contact your District ESL Coordinator or DDOE Office of Assessment for help setting up your account.
- A passing score of 80% is required on all Test Administrator Training Quizzes for the test you are required to administer.
- You do not need to show proof to the District ESL Coordinator or DOE that you passed your quizzes – they are able to view your training history in the WIDA Secure Portal.
- Additional Resources
- For additional Delaware resources, visit the Delaware System of Student Assessment website.
Standards and Instructional Support
The WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition, was released in December 2020. To learn more about Delaware’s timeline for rollout and implementation of the 2020 Edition, please visit our Schoology group (Delaware Educators of Multilingual Learners) using code SVM4C-F35C7.
Professional Learning
WIDA Core Learning Collection
All educators in the WIDA Consortium have complete access to the self-paced workshops, on-demand videos and resources in the Core Learning Collection. Titles include:
Self-Paced Workshops
- Desarollando el español: las expectativas del lenguaje
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Evaluaciones del desarrollo del lenguaje a nivel de salón
- Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions
- Let’s Play! Multilingual Children’s Joyful Learning in PreK-3
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Newcomers: Promoting Success through Strengthening Practice
- Reading Comprehension Across Content Areas with Multilingual Learners
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities in Language and Communication
- Teaching Multilingual Learners Social Studies through Multiple Perspectives
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
On-Demand Videos
- Exploring WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten
- Exploring WIDA ACCESS Online 1–12
- Introduction to the Marco DALE
- Introduction to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework
- Understanding WIDA ACCESS Score Reports for Instruction
- Understanding WIDA Alternate ACCESS Score Reports
- WIDA Standards Frameworks for Bilingual Educators
Find all the Core Learning Collection offerings in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact the WIDA Client Services Center at help@wida.wisc.edu or (866) 276-7735 to create a new WIDA Secure Portal account.