South Dakota
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2008.
Assessments
South Dakota uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener (for grades 1-12) to identify English language learners. WIDA ACCESS is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from late January through early March.
Testing Dates
| 1/4/27 - 2/26/27 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
|---|---|
| 1/5/27 - 1/7/27 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/25/27 - 2/26/27 | Test Window |
| 1/5/27 - 2/18/27 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 3/8/27 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 5/4/27 | Districts Receive ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 5/10/27 - 5/12/27 | Districts Receive Printed ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports |
| 6/10/27 | 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 WIDA ACCESS Paper ChecklistIdentification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Requirements
- South Dakota administers WIDA ACCESS Online for students in Grades 1-12. The paper-based version of WIDA ACCESS can be used for students who require it, as an accommodation as part of their IEP or 504 Plan.
- Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS tests remain paper-based assessments.
- Students in Grades 4-5 keyboard their Writing domain responses.
- SEA approval is required to order any Writing response booklets for Grades 4-12.
- Test Preparation and Training
- ACCESS training courses are available on the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator to obtain an account.
- To be considered certified to administer WIDA assessments, including WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Screener, Test Administrators must be a certified educator, review applicable training course in the WIDA Secure Portal, and pass the appropriate certification quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
- Test Administrators are required to certify annually for WIDA Screener and WIDA ACCESS administration.
- Screener administration certification opens annually on July 1; WIDA ACCESS administration certification opens annually on September 1.
- Manuals and Test Materials
WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener training and test materials are located in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator to obtain an account.
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 information on additional available state assessment professional development offerings, please click the Events/PD link on DOE homepage, and/or contact Renae Lehman for more information. Registration for Professional Learning opportunities.