Redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS Is Coming in 2025-26
Redesigning Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs is a multi-year project to transform the assessment so that it incorporates the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. The redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS will be ready for the 2025-26 ACCESS testing year. It will still be individually administered to students in an interactive, paper-based format. The redesigned assessment will feature
- A single, brand-new storyline (farewell, Erika the giraffe. Parting is such sweet sorrow)
- Streamlined design with fewer cards and materials
- New test item types that reflect classroom practices
- Revised expectations for test items based on the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition
- Revised scoring protocols and rubrics for Speaking and Writing tasks
- A revamped training course for test administrators
Did you know? We’re also revising ACCESS for ELLs Online and Paper to incorporate the 2020 Edition. Learn about that project on the Revised ACCESS for ELLs Is Coming in 2025-26 page.
As part of the work to redesign Kindergarten ACCESS, WIDA must host several test development events. So far, we’ve held bias, sensitivity and content reviews and carried out cognitive labs and pilot testing. A big WIDA thank you to all the educators across the WIDA Consortium who were involved in those events. Thanks to you, we can move on to one of the most integral steps in the test development process: field testing!
Coming up next: Kindergarten ACCESS Field Test 2025
Field Test Overview
What is it?
The Kindergarten ACCESS Field Test is a one-time, paper-based test that participating test administrators will give in addition to the Kindergarten ACCESS test that they administer each year. The field test is made up of newly developed test items. After the field test, experts determine which test items worked as planned and discern the level of difficulty of new test items.
Will students receive scores?
Even though you’ll record student scores as they take the field test, you will not get score reports from the field test. (Don’t worry, you’ll still get student scores from your regularly scheduled administration of Kindergarten ACCESS.) After the field test, test developers look at how individual test items performed with students before adding them to the redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS assessment.
Why have a field test?
All the newly developed Kindergarten ACCESS test items must be administered by test administrators to students. The field test helps to ensure that test items measure what they are intended to measure.
How will my students and I benefit from the field test?
Not only will you reap the benefits of a brand-new, totally redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS in 2025-26 (goodbye, bulky activity board!), but all participating sites will receive an honorarium.
When, Who and Where
When is it?
The field test window opens on January 21, 2025, and closes on March 28, 2025.
Who participates?
The field test is voluntary, so WIDA will select participating sites from those that apply. We need 2,000 multilingual learners in kindergarten and 2,000 multilingual learners in first grade to participate. Kindergarten students are essential, but first graders are super important to the kindergarten field test! They’ll help us better understand student growth expectations and complete technical work necessary to launch a revised ACCESS 1-12 in 2025-26. We are looking for a mixture of rural, suburban and urban sites and a range of student backgrounds, so everyone is encouraged to apply to participate.
Where is it?
The field test takes place at participating sites throughout the WIDA Consortium.
When can I apply to participate in the field test?
Field test recruitment starts on Tuesday, July 23! Check back here on that date to apply to participate. Use the next few months to tell your school/district leadership that you want to apply to participate in the field test.
Project Timeline
2023-2024
October 2023
Kindergarten ACCESS cognitive labs at select sites throughout the WIDA Consortium
February – March 2024
- Kindergarten ACCESS pilot testing at select sites throughout the WIDA Consortium
- Kindergarten ACCESS special study for students with low vision at select sites throughout the WIDA Consortium
2025-2026
January – March 2025
Kindergarten ACCESS field test at sites selected from those that sign up to participate
December 2025 through April 2026 (and beyond)
- Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs gets a name change: WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten
- Redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS is used by all sites in the WIDA Consortium
Introducing...
The Kindergarten ACCESS field test puppets are here to give a stellar performance as field test champions. We’ll make sure the field test puppets accompany all relevant communication and resources so that you have a visual indicator for when we’re talking about the field test.
Fun stuff!
That’s right, we said “fun stuff!” At WIDA, test development is a serious business, but we also know that we can’t be serious all the time...
We present... a bit of Kindergarten ACCESS Field Test whimsy! When was the last time you put on a puppet show with stick puppets or finger puppets? Take a moment to wallow in whimsy and download, print, color and play with the Kindergarten ACCESS Field Test puppet and puppet theater templates. Use the puppets to promote the upcoming field test and have some fun!