Vermont
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2004.
Assessments
Vermont uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten, WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten, and WIDA Screener (Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners (ELLs). WIDA ACCESS is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which lasts from early January through early March.
Testing Dates
| 10/22/26 - 11/12/26 | Test Materials Ordering Available in WIDA AMS (LEAs) |
|---|---|
| 10/22/26 - 11/12/26 | Load Pre-ID/Student Import Files into WIDA AMS (LEAs) |
| 12/8/26 - 3/12/27 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
| 12/16/26 - 12/17/26 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 12/30/26 - 3/5/27 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 1/4/27 - 3/12/27 | Test Window |
| 3/16/27 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 4/29/27 | Districts Receive ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 5/14/27 - 5/17/27 | 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 Identification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Requirements
- Students in Grades 1-12 take WIDA ACCESS Online. Paper-based assessments in Grades 1-12 require pre-approval from the State. Contact Heidi Jo Bartlett at HeidiJo.Bartlett@vermont.gov for more information.
- Students in Grades 1-3 continue to view the Writing prompt and write their responses in a physical response booklet. This is still considered the online assessment.
- Students in Grades 4-5 keyboard their Writing responses on the test platform.
- Kindergarten ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS tests remain paper-based.
- DRC sends Writing test booklets for Grades 1-3 with the initial materials order based on the student counts entered into WIDA AMS. Additional response booklets can be ordered if necessary during the Additional Materials Ordering Window.
- Test Preparation and Training
- ACCESS training courses and certification quizzes are available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact WIDA Client Services for a WIDA Secure Portal account.
- WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener training and test materials are available in the WIDA Secure Portal. If you need access to training and test materials, contact WIDA Client Services to create a portal account.
- Student and Test Session Management, Testing Software, and Materials Ordering are done through the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS). If you do not have a WIDA AMS account, contact your DTC.
- To be certified to administer ACCESS, log in to the WIDA Secure Portal. Select the Assessment Training path and find the course details page for the test you are administering. Enroll in the course and view the appropriate training modules and materials for your role. Pass the certification quiz for that assessment.
- Educators are required to certify annually, prior to administration.
- Manuals, Guides and Test Materials
WIDA AMS Supplement: Submit Incomplete Domain - In order to begin the Speaking and Writing domains in ACCESS, students must first take Listening and Reading. If a student is unable to complete the Listening or Reading domain (e.g., due to a disability), districts can submit an incomplete domain to continue to the Speaking and Writing domains. Instructions for this process can be found in the above supplement.
- Supplemental Documents
WIDA Assessments for Multilingual English Learners on IEPs
Vermont Materials Management Guidelines - WIDA ACCESS 2025-2026
Standards and Instructional Support
Resources and guidance related to educating Pre-K through 12th grade publicly-tuitioned students in Vermont can be found on the VT AOE’s Multilingual English Learners in Vermont page.
Additional resources and guidance related to our State Standards, including Coordinated Curriculum, Content Areas, Proficiency-Based Learning, Flexible Pathways, Assessments, Adult Education and Lexile and Quantile Frameworks at the Student Learning page of the Agency of Education Website.
Professional Learning
With the State School Board's formal adoption of the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework (2020) in early 2026, for the 2026-27 school year, the Agency of Education is providing a menu of professional learning opportunities to assist SU/SDs in adopting the standards and utilizing them in instruction, not just for multilingual learners, but for all students. For more information including dates and how to register, review 2026-2027 WIDA Professional Learning Opportunities.
Facilitated Opportunities
- Introduction to the WIDA English Language Development Framework
- WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
- Planning with the ELD Standards Framework (Virtually facilitated by WIDA)
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Bringing Language into Focus: Expectations, Functions, and Features (Virtually facilitated by WIDA)
- Teacher Leaders: Planning with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework (Virtual meeting for the pre-work followed by an In-Person workshop, both facilitated by WIDA)
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. You can choose to complete as many of these workshops as you want, when you want, at your own pace in the WIDA Secure Portal.
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
A WIDA Secure Portal account is needed to access any of these self-paced options. If you are a classroom teacher, specialist, instructional coach, or school leader who does not already have a WIDA Secure Portal account and you would like to participate or get more information, contact the WIDA Client Services Center to set up an account.