South Carolina
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2014.
Assessments
South Carolina uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten, and WIDA Screener or WIDA MODEL (Grades 1-12) to identify multilingual learners (MLs). WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS is given to all active MLs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from mid-January through mid-March.
Testing Dates
| 11/13/26 - 11/16/26 | Districts Receive Test Administration Manuals |
|---|---|
| 12/28/26 - 3/12/27 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
| 1/14/27 - 1/15/27 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/20/27 - 3/5/27 | Test Window |
| 1/15/27 - 2/26/27 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 3/19/27 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 4/16/27 - 4/27/27 | Pre-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 5/13/27 | Districts Receive ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 5/26/27 - 5/27/27 | Districts Receive Printed ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports |
| 5/18/27 - 5/24/27 | Post-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 6/8/27 | Updated ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Data - Posted in WIDA AMS for SEA and Districts |
Requirements and Resources
See below for state-specific information and resources related to ELL assessment, including your state’s WIDA ACCESS Checklist, where you can find each step in the ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.
WIDA ACCESS Online Checklist Identification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Requirements
- All students who are determined active multilingual learners, based upon the completion of a Home Language Survey and the initial assessment of their English proficiency, must take WIDA ACCESS (grades K-12) or WIDA Alternate ACCESS (grades K-12) annually, until they meet the SC determined exit requirements.
- Students must meet eligibility criteria of an ML with a significant cognitive disability to take WIDA Alternate ACCESS. Refer to the Guidance for IEP Teams on Determining Participation in SC-ALT for more information.
- WIDA Alternate ACCESS – Administered in grades K-12 through paper-based format. Students in kindergarten that qualify for alternate assessments will take the 1st grade WIDA Alternate ACCESS.
- WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten - Administered individually and scored locally in paper-based format.
- Grades 1-3 Writing - Administered through paper-based format.
- Grades 4-12 Writing - The default format is online prompt and keyed online response. Districts may choose to administer using an online and paper format, where the prompt is administered online and student responses are written in a test booklet. Districts can order paper writing response booklets during the additional materials ordering window.
- Students who cannot take online assessments due to a disability, as specified in their IEP or 504 Plan or homebound students where online testing is not feasible, may take the paper-based assessment.
- Test Preparation and Training
- District Test Coordinators will create accounts for Test Administrators on the Manage Users page in the WIDA Secure Portal.
- WIDA ACCESS training courses and quizzes are located in the WIDA Secure Portal. Test Administrators must complete the applicable training course and pass the certification quizzes to administer the assessment.
- District Test Coordinators can verify Test Administrator certification using the Certification Report tool in the WIDA Secure Portal.
- Reference the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Assessment Training and Certification Guide for more details.
- Manuals, Guides, and Test Materials
WIDA Secure Portal Account:
- ACCESS for ELLs District and School Test Coordinator Manual (DSCM) Test coordination policies and procedures
- ACCESS for ELLs Test Administrator Manual (TAM) Test administration policies and procedures
- Accessibility and Accommodations Manual Accessibility and accommodations policies and procedures
- WIDA AMS User Guide
- WIDA Q&A Webinar Schedule
- South Carolina Multilingual Learner Program (MLP)
ESEA, Title III, Part A / Multilingual Learner Program
Office of Federal and State Accountability
(803) 734-1601
TitleIIIMLP@ed.sc.gov
Standards and Instructional Support
The WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition will be fully implemented in South Carolina during the 2022-2023 school year. Resources are available on the WIDA website and additional professional learning opportunities will be provided throughout the year.
Professional Learning
WIDA Core Learning Collection
All educators in the WIDA Consortium have complete access to the self-paced workshops, on-demand videos and resources in the Core Learning Collection. Titles include:
Self-Paced Workshops
- Desarollando el español: las expectativas del lenguaje
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Evaluaciones del desarrollo del lenguaje a nivel de salón
- Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions
- Let’s Play! Multilingual Children’s Joyful Learning in PreK-3
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Newcomers: Promoting Success through Strengthening Practice
- Reading Comprehension Across Content Areas with Multilingual Learners
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities in Language and Communication
- Teaching Multilingual Learners Social Studies through Multiple Perspectives
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
On-Demand Videos
- Exploring WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten
- Exploring WIDA ACCESS Online 1–12
- Introduction to the Marco DALE
- Introduction to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework
- Understanding WIDA ACCESS Score Reports for Instruction
- Understanding WIDA Alternate ACCESS Score Reports
- WIDA Standards Frameworks for Bilingual Educators
Find all the Core Learning Collection offerings in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator to create a new WIDA Secure Portal account.
For 2025-26 WIDA Facilitated Virtual Workshops and other professional learning opportunities, please visit the South Carolina English Language Acquisition webpage or contact Meghan Walters-Branham at mgwalters@ed.sc.gov.