North Dakota

Requirements and Resources

See below for state-specific information and resources related to EL 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 Checklist Identification and Placement Guidance

State Testing Requirements

• All potential English learners must be screened using the ND English language proficiency (ELP) screener assessment (WIDA Screener).
• All English learners must participate in the annual ELP summative assessment (ACCESS for ELLs).
• All English Learners in grades 3-8 and 10 who have been in the country for more than 12 months must participate in the ND State Assessment (NDSA). There are exemptions for students participating in the NDSA. These include students who have been in the country for less than a year, and students with a documented plan where a team of stakeholders has determined it would not benefit the student to take the NDSA. In cases where the NDSA may not be deemed appropriate, the ND Alternate Assessment  (NDAA) may be an option for the student.  
• Newly arrived English learners may qualify for a one-time exemption of the RLA portion of the state content assessment within the first 12 months of enrollment in a U.S. school.

Attainment (exit) is primarily based on ND ELP scores. To qualify for reclassification, a student must meet English language proficiency comparable to their native English-speaking peers determined by one of the following options:

• General: Minimum 5.0 composite ELP and minimum 3.5 proficiency level (PL) in each domain.
• ALT: Minimum P2 composite on ALT ACCESS for two consecutive years and documented approval of the ILP/IEP teams.
• Exempt Domain: Minimum 4.5 adapted composite ELP, minimum 3.5 PL in each non-exempt domain, and documented approval of the ILP/IEP teams.
• Plateau: Documented high-quality English language development (ELD) instruction with no ELP growth for a minimum of 3 consecutive years, minimum composite ELP of 4.0 and documented assurances and approval of the ILP/IEP teams.

Test Preparation and Training

• All personnel who contact WIDA assessments must be trained and certified ANNUALLY on those assessments with which they have access. This is important to maintain the security and reliability of the assessments.   
  • Staff who contact the assessment but do not administer any portions must review and sign the security agreement available under “ACCESS for ELLs Test Security” on the NDDPI website or in the EL Coordinator Team.
  • The training/certification for the WIDA Screener and ACCESS assessments is completed through training modules in the WIDA Secure Portal.
  • To administer any paper-based version of WIDA Screener or ACCESS, educators must hold a ND EL endorsement.
• District Test Coordinators (DTCs) must update/maintain WIDA and DRC accounts for all applicable personnel to ensure permissions and trainings are current and accurate. The district test coordinator must annually verify this information to the NDDPI. If you did not receive the verification form, please contact the EL Programs Office. 

Manuals, Guides and Test Materials

• State-specific guidance can be found on the NDDPI website and in the Office 365 EL Coordinator or EL Educator Teams.
• Additional test manuals and guides can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal.