Pennsylvania
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2007.
Assessment
Pennsylvania uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA MODEL to identify English Learners (ELs) in kindergarten and WIDA Screener or WIDA MODEL (for Grades 1-12) to identify ELs in grades 1-12. ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from January through mid-February.
Testing Dates
| 9/24/24 | WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data Files Available – Online in WIDA AMS |
|---|---|
| 10/17/24 - 10/18/24 | WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports Available in District - Printed |
| 10/24/24 - 11/20/24 | Test Materials Ordering Available in AMS (LEAs) |
| 12/3/24 - 2/28/25 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
| 1/2/25 - 1/6/25 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/6/25 - 2/21/25 | Test Window |
| 1/2/25 - 2/14/25 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 1/20/25 | Cutoff for requirement to test newly enrolling students |
| 3/5/25 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 4/8/25 - 4/15/25 | Pre-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 5/27/25 | Districts Receive Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 6/11/25 - 6/13/25 | Printed Reports Received in Districts |
**Do not wait for the deadline to ship materials to DRC. Districts should ship materials back as soon as they complete testing.
Districts are not required to administer the ACCESS test to ELs who enroll after January 17th, 2025. However, it is highly recommended that districts do so if possible.
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 Online Checklist ACCESS for ELLs Paper Checklist
- State Testing Requirements
- Pennsylvania students must take the ACCESS for ELLs Online. The paper-based version of ACCESS for ELLs for Grades 1-12 may be given only as an accommodation for students who require it. Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS remain paper-based.
- LEAs may order a paper-based ACCESS for ELLs test on a student-by-student basis during the ordering process. The decision must be based on the student’s individual needs.
- LEAs facing insurmountable challenges to online testing (e.g.., lack of technology infrastructure) should notify PDE by contacting Bob Measel or Julia Puza as soon as possible.
- Schoolwide administration of the paper test for any reason MUST be approved by the state prior to ordering tests.
- The default writing domain mode for students in grades 4-5 is online. Districts may, however, allow handwriting for ELs in grades 4-5 if they choose.
- Only students who are or are likely to be eligible for the state Alternate Assessment (PASA) are eligible for the WIDA Alternate ACCESS.
- Reclassification, Monitoring and Redesignation Guidance
- Test Preparation and Training
All personnel who will administer a WIDA assessment or screener MUST complete the full training and pass the relevant quizzes before their first administration.
Any educators, including paraprofessionals, may administer the ACCESS test or Screener as long as they have completed the required training and passed all certification quizzes. Paraprofessionals must be employed by the district. In all cases in which it is possible, PDE recommends that paraprofessionals be monitored by a teacher while administering a test.
For the Alternate ACCESS, only a certified teacher who works regularly with the student may administer the test. Again, the test administrator must have completed the test administrator training and passed all quizzes.
For personnel administering the online ACCESS:
- Complete the full training only once. Annual recertification is not necessary.
For personnel administering PAPER ACCESS or WIDA 1-12 Screeners:
- Complete only the speaking training and pass the relevant quizzes annually after initial certification.
For personnel administering the Kindergarten ACCESS:
- Pass the Kindergarten ACCESS certification quiz annually.
For personnel administering the Kindergarten Screener:
- Pass the oral language and the literacy certification quizzes annually.
Full recertification will be required for test administrators who were involved in any test anomalies during the previous year (e.g., missing tests, student plagiarism, breach of test security, etc.). The local Test Coordinator or EL Coordinator is responsible for tracking test anomalies and ensuring compliance with this requirement.
- Manuals, Guides and Test Materials
- Training and test materials for WIDA Screener can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator or WIDA Client Services for assistance.
- Identification, reclassification, monitoring, and redesignation procedures are found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website.
- Test Coordinators place ACCESS materials orders via WIDA AMS. DRC will send e-mail updates to District Test Coordinators pertaining to important testing activity dates. DTCs should review these e-mails carefully to ensure that all ACCESS-related tasks are completed accurately and on time.
- Pennsylvania-specific ACCESS for ELLs Administration Directions (2024-2025).
Professional Learning
Professional development offerings and archived resources can be found on the ESL Portal.