Virginia
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2008.
Assessments
Virginia uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or WIDA MODEL to identify English Learners (ELs) in Kindergarten and the WIDA Screener or WIDA MODEL for Grades 1-12. ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from early January through late March.
Testing Dates
| 9/18/24 | Districts Receive WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data Files – Online in WIDA AMS |
|---|---|
| 10/10/24 | Districts Receive WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports – Printed |
| 10/3/24 - 11/13/24 | Test Materials Ordering via WIDA AMS – LEAs |
| 10/3/24 - 11/13/24 | LEAs Load Pre-ID/Student Import File into WIDA AMS |
| 11/11/24 - 3/21/25 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
| 1/6/25 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/13/25 - 3/21/25 | Test Window |
| 1/6/25 - 3/14/25 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 3/28/25 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 4/18/25 - 4/28/25 | Pre-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in AMS |
| 5/14/25 | Districts Receive Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 6/3/25 | Printed Reports Received in Districts |
| 6/12/25 - 6/23/25 | Post-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 7/8/25 | Updated ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Data Posted in WIDA AMS |
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.
ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist ACCESS for ELLs Paper ChecklistIdentification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Requirements
School divisions specify whether online or paper-based tests will be administered during the Pre-ID upload window. Divisions have three options:
- All ELLs in Grades 1-12 take the online assessment (with an option to respond to the Writing domain in a physical response booklet);
- All ELLs in Grades 1-12 take the paper-based assessment; or
- Some ELLs in Grades 1-12 take the online assessment and others take the paper-based assessment.
Kindergarten ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS remain paper-based assessments.
By default, students in Grades 4-5 taking ACCESS Online keyboard their Writing responses. If necessary, Writing response booklets can be ordered during the Additional Materials Ordering window.
Additional information regarding the administration of ELP assessments in Virginia can be found on the Virginia English Language Proficiency Assessments website.
- Test Preparation and Training
- ACCESS training courses and certification quizzes can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your Division Director of Testing if you do not have an account.
- WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener training and test materials are located in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your Division Director of Testing if you do not have an account.
- To be certified to administer ACCESS, test administrators must complete the applicable training course and pass the certification quiz with an 80% or higher. Test administrators must complete all training components, including certification quizzes, annually.
- Alternate ACCESS test administrators must complete the online training course and pass the certification quiz with an 80% or higher. Contact your Division Director of Testing to find out more information on local Alternate ACCESS training.
- Proof of certification can be found in the WIDA Secure Portal. You may also be asked to submit physical proof to your Division Director of Testing. Contact your DDOT for more information.
- For information on training for the administration of the ACCESS for ELLs Test, view the WIDA module titled “Administering the Test” in the Online ACCESS for ELLs: Administration training course.
Standards and Instructional Support
The WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition, was released in December 2020. To learn more about Virginia’s implementation of the 2020 Edition, please visit Virginia's English Learner Education Webpage.
Professional Learning
From September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025, educators in Virginia have access to WIDA’s Self-paced Workshops 2024-2025 offerings. View the Self-paced Workshops flyer for full workshop descriptions and intended audiences.
All self-paced workshops are free and available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Don’t have a WIDA Secure Portal account? Contact your Title III Coordinator for more information.
State Workshops:
September 23-24, 2024
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades
September 26-27, 2024
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Secondary Grades
September 24, 2024, October 1, 2024, & October 8, 2024
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Scaffolding Learning through Language
Please see the Virginia Department of Education English Learner Instruction website to learn more about resources for supporting multilingual learners.