Kansas

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Kansas partnered with WIDA to administer WIDA Alternate ACCESS in 2023. Kansas is implementing WIDA Alternate Screener in 2025-2026.

Assessments

Kansas uses WIDA Alternate Screener to identify English learners (ELs) in grades K-12 with the most significant cognitive disabilities. WIDA Alternate ACCESS is given to identified MLs with the most significant cognitive disabilities during the annual testing window.

Testing Dates

12/1/25 - 12/19/25Test Materials Ordering Available in WIDA AMS (LEAs)
12/1/25 - 12/19/25LEAs Load Pre-ID/Student Import File into WIDA AMS
1/21/26 - 1/22/26Districts Receive Test Materials 
2/2/26 - 3/13/26Test Window 
1/21/26 - 3/6/26Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS 
3/25/26Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date 
4/27/26 - 5/1/26Pre-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS
5/19/26Alternate ACCESS Data Available to SEA - Posted in WIDA AMS
5/19/26Districts Receive Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS 
6/9/26 - 6/10/26Printed Reports Received in Districts  

Requirements and Resources

See below for state-specific information and resources related to ML assessment, including your state’s WIDA Alternate ACCESS Checklist, where you can find each step in the Alternate ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.

WIDA Alternate ACCESS Checklist

State Testing Requirements
  • LEAs are required to administer an approved screening assessment to students who enroll in the first month of school within 30 calendar days of enrollment. For students who enroll later, a screening assessment must be administered within 10 school days of enrollment.
  • All ELs with the most significant cognitive disability must be tested annually using the Alternate ACCESS assessment. When students earn an Overall Composite Score of 4 or higher they are considered proficient in English. Students are then reclassified to either transitional for one year and /or monitored status for 2 years. Students are not required to take the WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessment once they are reclassified. The LEA may use appropriate data, evaluation, and team-based problem solving to consider reclassifying the student as EL if, while in monitoring status, students demonstrate consistent and continued need for increased language support services.
  • WIDA Alternate ACCESS is a paper-based assessment for all grades, Kindergarten through Grade 12.
  • To be certified to administer and score the WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessment, test administrators must annually complete the WIDA Alternate ACCESS: Administration and Scoring training course.
  • KS Participation Decision Tree
  • After using the KS Participation Decision Tree teams should refer to the Rubric for Determining Student Eligibility for the Kansas Alternate Assessment (DLM) for students in grades K-2 who are not already participating in the Alternate State Assessment (DLM).
Test Preparation and Training
  • Preparing for Alternate ACCESS Testing.
  • The WIDA Alternate ACCESS: Administration and Scoring training course is located in the WIDA Secure Portal. If you do not have a WIDA Secure Portal account, please contact your District Test Coordinator (DTC). If your DTC does not have an account, contact Chelsea Pelfrey, chelsea.pelfrey@ksde.gov.
  • To be certified to administer WIDA Alternate ACCESS, Test Administrators must complete the WIDA Alternate ACCESS: Administration and Scoring training course and pass the certification quiz with an 80% or higher.
  • Test Administrators are required to pass the certification quiz annually.
  • Student and test management, testing software, and materials ordering tasks are completed in the DRC INSIGHT/WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS). If you do not have a WIDA AMS account, contact Chelsea Pelfrey, chelsea.pelfrey@ksde.gov.
Manuals, Guides and Test Materials

*WIDA Secure Portal account required

Resources
WIDA Alternate Screener

WIDA Assessment Webinars

Educators in Kansas have the opportunity to participate in free assessment webinars developed by WIDA. WIDA Assessment Webinars are a series of live webinars presented by WIDA and DRC.

They help test administrators and test coordinators administer WIDA Alternate ACCESS and WIDA Alternate Screener and are designed to supplement the official assessment training courses.

Add these webinars to your calendar from the Webinars page of the WIDA Secure Portal (login required).

All WIDA Assessment Webinars are recorded and will be available in the WIDA Secure Portal approximately one week after the initial presentation.

Contacts

Kansas State Department of Education

Chelsea Pelfrey
State Assessment Contact
785-296-0040
chelsea.pelfrey@ksde.gov

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
Use the WIDA Secure Portal to access test training manuals and resources, as well as online professional learning modules.

  • To obtain a new login, contact help@wida.wisc.edu, call (866) 276-7735, or contact your District Test Coordinator.
  • New District Test Coordinators should contact Chelsea Pelfrey to create an account.
  • For assistance with your account, contact the WIDA Client Services Center at help@wida.wisc.edu or call (866) 276-7735.

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

  • To obtain a new login, contact your District Test Coordinator.
  • New District Test Coordinators should contact Chelsea Pelfrey to create an account.
  • For assistance accessing your account, contact DRC Customer Service at wida@datarecognitioncorp.com or call (855) 787-9615.