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). ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from mid-February through mid-March.
Testing Dates
| 1/23/25 - 3/21/25 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
|---|---|
| 1/14/25 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/14/25 - 3/14/25 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 2/3/25 - 3/28/25 | Test Window |
| 3/27/25 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC (Postmark Date) |
| 5/23/25 | Districts Receive Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 6/11/25 | Printed Reports Received in Districts |
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.
- State Testing Requirements
- Students in Grades 1-12 take ACCESS for ELLs 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
- ACCESS for ELLs 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
Beginning September 1, 2024, educators in the Northern Mariana Islands will have the opportunity to participate in Self-Paced Workshops developed by WIDA; a trusted name in the field of English learner education and assessment. The following Workshops will be available in the Professional Learning section of the WIDA Secure Portal:
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
- Newcomers: Promoting Success through Strengthening Practice
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Exploring the WIDA Pre-K-3 Essential Actions
- Home Languages in the Classroom
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Social Studies: Engaging Multilingual Learners through Inquiry
WIDA Self-Paced Workshops cover a range of topics intended for a variety of audiences, from K-12 classroom teachers to English as a Second Language Specialists to district and school administrators. All Workshops are FREE and available when and where it is convenient for you!! View the Self-Paced Workshops flyer for full descriptions and intended audiences.
Need a secure portal account to access the eLearning workshops? Contact Fasefulu Tigilau fasefulu.tigilau@cnmipss.org at the CNMI Department of Education.