Florida

Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2015.

Assessment

Florida may use WIDA MODEL and WIDA Screener (for Grades K-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). WIDA ACCESS must be administered to all ELLs during the yearly testing window, which typically takes place from mid-January through late March.

Testing Dates

11/10/25SEA Loads Pre-ID File into WIDA AMS
12/12/25 - 3/20/26WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Editing Student Demographic Information
1/6/26 - 1/7/26Districts Receive Test Materials
1/12/26 - 3/12/26Districts Load Student Import File into WIDA AMS
1/12/26 - 3/13/26Test Window
1/6/26 - 3/6/26Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS
3/20/26Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC

Requirements and Resources

See below for Florida-specific information and resources related to ELL assessment, including the WIDA ACCESS Checklist, where you can find each step in the testing process from beginning to end. If you have been asked to complete WIDA online training activities but do not believe you have a login, please contact your District or School Assessment Coordinator.

WIDA ACCESS Checklist Florida State Specific Directions

State Testing Requirements
  • All students enrolled in the district (Grades K-12) and classified ELL, with a code of "LY" on the 1st day of the test administration window, must take one of the following English language proficiency assessments in Spring 2026:
    • WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten
    • WIDA ACCESS Online
    • WIDA ACCESS Paper
    • WIDA Alternate ACCESS
  • Florida’s WIDA Alternate ACCESS participation criteria is as follows:
    • The student is classified as ELL, with a code of “LY” on the first day of the testing window (January 12, 2026).
    • The student has a most significant cognitive disability as defined in Rule 6A-6.03411(1)(f), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).
    • The student receives special education services under IDEA (2004) and requires extensive direct individualized instruction and substantial supports to achieve measurable gains in the grade and age-appropriate curriculum.
    • The student is or will be participating in Access Points Curriculum and/or Statewide, Standardized Alternate Assessment based on criteria outlined in Rule 6A-1.0943(5), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). 
Test Preparation and Training
  • Test Administrators must take the training module quizzes and receive a passing score to administer the assessments. Log in to the WIDA Secure Portal to access training courses and quizzes.
    • WIDA ACCESS Online and WIDA ACCESS Paper Test Administrators with training certificates prior to September 1, 2025, must recertify to administer during the Spring 2026 administration.
    • WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten Test Administrators with training certificates prior to September 29, 2025, must recertify to administer during the Spring 2026 administration.
    • WIDA ACCESS Paper Braille and WIDA Alternate ACCESS Test Administrators with training certificates prior to September 1, 2024, must recertify to administer during the Spring 2026 administration.
  • School assessment coordinators and test administrators need to review:
Florida Assessment Results and Rules

State Results

  • Spring 2024 ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2023 ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2022 ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2021 ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2020 ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results - February 2021
    • Note: The revised Spring 2020 ACCESS for ELLs State Results includes updated reporting for districts who were unable to return test materials due to COVID-19 and school closures. The state's ACCESS for ELLs proficient percentage of 21% did not change; however, Alternate ACCESS for ELLs changed from 51% to 50%.
  • Spring 2020 ACCESS for ELLs Paper and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2019 ACCESS for ELLs Paper and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2018 ACCESS for ELLs Paper and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2017 ACCESS for ELLs Paper and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results
  • Spring 2016 ACCESS for ELLs Paper and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs State Results

State Board of Education Rules

  • Rule 6A-6.0902, FAC, Requirements for Identification, Eligibility and Programmatic Assessments of English Language Learners
  • Rule 6A-6.09021, FAC, Annual English Language Proficiency Assessment for ELLs
  • Rule 6A-6.0903, FAC, Requirements for Exiting English Language Learners from the English for Speakers of Other Language Program
Florida Proficiency Criteria and Guidance for WIDA Identification Assessments

WIDA Screener and WIDA MODEL (Online or Paper)

  • For students in grades K-2, a Listening score of 4 or higher and a Speaking score of 4 or higher means proficiency.
  • For students in grades 3-12, an Overall Composite score of 4 or higher and a Reading score of 4 or higher means proficiency.

WIDA Alternate Screener

  • For students in grades K–2, a Listening score of 3 or higher and a Speaking score of 3 or higher means proficiency.
  • For students in grades 3–8, an Overall Composite score of 3 or higher and a Reading score of 3 or higher means proficiency.
  • For students in grades 9–12, an Overall Composite score of 4 or higher and a Reading score of 4 or higher means proficiency.

State-Specific Guidance for WIDA Screeners

  • It is a district decision to determine certification requirements for WIDA Screener Test Administrators.
  • All students must be screened on the current grade level test form in Florida.
  • It is a district decision to administer all four language domains to students in grades K–2. Per Rule 6A-6.0902, Florida Administration Code (F.A.C.), Requirements for Identification, Eligibility and Programmatic Assessments of English Language Learners, only the Listening and Speaking scores are considered to determine entry for students in grades K–2.

Standards and Instructional Support

The WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework, 2020 Edition: Kindergarten – Grade 12 is available in the WIDA Resource Library. There are three webpages dedicated to the WIDA ELD Standards Framework: 

  • ELD Standards Framework: Learn more about the Big Ideas and four components of the framework.
  • The 2020 Edition: Discover what’s new and different about the 2020 Edition. View, download, or order a copy of the book, and find available resources for rollout and implementation.
  • ELD Standards Framework Professional Development: From webinars to workshops to Focus Bulletins, check out various learning opportunities to begin and advance your understanding of the updated framework.

For more information about Florida standards, course descriptions and standards resources, please visit the CPALMS website.

Professional Learning

For the 2025-2026 school year, WIDA is offering facilitated professional development opportunities that are available for all educators in Florida. For more information regarding the content and schedule of upcoming WIDA Workshops, please review the following document.

Florida's WIDA Workshops

Self-Paced Workshops

Attend a Self-Paced Workshop when it works for your schedule! For more information regarding the content and schedule of upcoming WIDA Workshops, please review the following document.

Florida's WIDA Self-Paced Workshops

If you do not have access to the WIDA Secure Portal but would like to take advantage of these valuable eLearning opportunities, contact WIDA Client Services Center at help@wida.wisc.edu or (866) 276-7735 to request an eLearning account to be created for you.

Contacts

Contact the Florida Department of Education for questions related to state-specific policies and procedures.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment
(850) 245-0513
assessment@fldoe.org

WIDA Client Services Center 
Contact us for questions about training materials, test administration procedures, classroom resources, or for problems with your WIDA Secure Portal account.

help@wida.wisc.edu
(866) 276-7735

Logging In

WIDA Secure Portal
Access the WIDA Secure Portal for test training manuals and resources, as well as Online Professional Learning modules.

WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS) 
WIDA AMS is managed by our partner company Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). Depending on your role, you can order WIDA ACCESS test materials, manage student and test information, and find technology resources and testing software for WIDA Screener Online via WIDA AMS.