Kentucky
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2006.
Assessments
Kentucky uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener (for Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which typically takes place from the beginning of January through early February.
Testing Dates
| 9/11/24 | Districts Receive WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data Files – Online in WIDA AMS |
|---|---|
| 9/26/24 | Districts Receive WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports - Printed |
| 9/27/24-10/23/24 | Test Materials Ordering Available – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 11/27/23-2/14/25 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
| 12/3/24 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 12/3/24-2/7/25 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 1/6/25-2/14/25 | Test Window |
| 2/28/25 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC (Postmark date) |
| 3/19/25-4/2/25 | Pre-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 4/28/25 | Districts Receive Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 5/7/25-5/8/25 | Districts Receive Print Reports |
| 6/6/25 | Updated ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
Requirements and Resources
See below for state-specific information and resources related to ELL assessment, including your state’s ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, where you can find each step in the ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.
ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist Identification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Requirements
The Kentucky State Department of Education strongly encourages Grades 1-12 ELs be administered the online version of ACCESS for ELLs.
Kindergarten and WIDA Alternate ACCESS will remain paper-based.
Writing Domain (Testing Online)
- For Grades 1-3, the prompts and responses will be entered in the test booklet
- For Grades 4-12, the prompts and responses will be entered online
- Test Preparation and Training
Test Administrators must complete the ACCESS for ELLs Online Training Course and pass the certification quiz with an 80% or higher. The course is located in the WIDA Secure Portal.
If you don’t yet have an account to access the Secure Portal, please contact your state facilitator: Chris Williams, (502) 564-4394 x4750, chris.williams@education.ky.gov
- You must take the Test Administrator Training Quizzes and receive a passing score of 80% on all applicable quizzes in order to administer ACCESS.
- For ACCESS for ELLs Online (Grades 1-12), you must recertify annually by taking and passing the appropriate certification quiz.
- For Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS, you must recertify annually by taking the appropriate certification quiz.
- Manuals, Guides, and Test Materials
Note: many of these resources require a WIDA Secure Portal account to access. To obtain a WIDA Secure Portal account, contact Chris.Williams@education.ky.gov.
Professional Learning
All Kentucky public school K-12 educators have free unlimited access to nine Self-Paced Workshops that offer relevant, practical content that will build capacity in supporting multilingual learners. Workshop titles include:
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions
- Home Languages in the Classroom
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Newcomers: Promoting Success through Strengthening Practice
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Social Studies: Engaging Multilingual Learners through Inquiry
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
View the Workshops flyer for full descriptions and intended audiences.
All Self-Paced Workshops are accessible via the WIDA Secure Portal. To obtain a WIDA Secure Portal account, contact Chris.Williams@education.ky.gov
For the 2024-2025 WIDA Facilitated Workshops registration for Kentucky educators. Please contact Kaiman.Triplett@education.ky.gov or Brandy.Neal@education.ky.gov