Northern Mariana Islands
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2012.
Assessments
Northern Mariana Islands uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener (Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). WIDA ACCESS is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from mid-February through mid-March.
Testing Dates
| 1/21/27 - 3/19/27 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
|---|---|
| 1/12/27 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/12/27 - 3/12/27 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 2/1/27 - 3/19/27 | Test Window |
| 4/8/27 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC (Postmark Date) |
| 5/21/27 | Districts Receive ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 6/9/27 | Districts Receive Printed ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports |
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.
- State Testing Requirements
- Students in Grades 1-12 take WIDA ACCESS Online. Students in Kindergarten continue to take the assessment through a paper-based kit.
- Students in Grades 1-3 handwrite their responses on the Writing domain.
- Students in Grades 6-12 who are unable to keyboard their Writing responses have the option of handwriting their responses. Writing Response Booklets for students in Grades 6-12 can be ordered during the Additional Test Material Ordering Window, if necessary.
- Test Preparation and Training
- WIDA ACCESS training courses can be found on the WIDA Secure Portal. Test Administrators must review the applicable courses and pass the relevant certification quizzes with a score of 80% or higher to be certified.
- Recorded webinars on a variety of ACCESS-related topics are available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Educators can also visit the Professional Learning page to register for live webinars, if desired.
- To be certified to administer ACCESS, Test Administrators are required to review the appropriate ACCESS training course and pass the associated certification quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
- ACCESS training courses are located on the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator if you do not have an account.
- CNMI-PSS recommends that educators complete training and certification annually, but recertification is not required if the educator has completed training the previous year.
- Your District Test Coordinator will be able to view your proof of certification, but may require you to submit a physical copy. Contact your District Test Coordinator for more information.
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 Fasefulu Tigilau fasefulu.tigilau@cnmipss.org at the CNMI Department of Education to create a new WIDA Secure Portal account.