Washington
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2021.
Assessments
Washington uses WIDA Screener to identify students eligible for English language development (ELD) services. ACCESS for ELLs is given to all students eligible for ELD services during the annual testing window, which takes place from late January through late March.
Washington uses the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten for students enrolled in kindergarten. Students in Grades 1-12 are screened using the WIDA Screener Online unless a paper accommodation is required by an IEP or 504 plan. Paper screeners can be obtained through an emailed request to ELPAssessments@k12.wa.us. All screener assessments are administered on grade level.
Testing Dates
| 9/20/24 | WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data Files Available - Online in WIDA AMS |
|---|---|
| 10/18/24-10/21/24 | WIDA Alternate ACCESS Reports Available in District - Printed |
| 1/3/25 - 3/21/25 | WIDA AMS Test Setup Available for Registrations |
| 1/21/25 - 1/22/25 | Districts Receive Test Materials |
| 1/27/25 - 3/21/25 | Test Window |
| 1/21/25 - 3/14/25 | Additional Test Material Ordering Window in WIDA AMS |
| 3/28/25 | Deadline for Shipping Completed Test Materials to DRC - Postmark date |
| 4/23/25 - 5/1/25 | Pre-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 5/19/25 | Districts Receive Reports and Data - Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 6/10/25 - 6/ 11/ 25 | Printed Reports Received in Districts |
| 6/12/25 - 6/26/25 | Post-Reporting Data Validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
| 6/26/25 | ACCESS Late Return 2 File Available – Posted in WIDA AMS (if applicable) |
| 7/10/25 | Updated ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Data Posted in WIDA AMS |
| 8/4/25 | ACCESS Data Corrections 1 File Available – Posted in WIDA AMS (if applicable) |
Resources and Requirements
See the sections below for state-specific information and resources related to EL assessments, 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 Identification and Placement Guidance
- State Testing Guidance
Washington’s multilingual learners who qualify for ELD services in grades 1–12 will take ACCESS for ELLs Online. OSPI requires multilingual students to take the online version of the ACCESS for ELLs except in cases where the paper, large print, or braille versions are needed as an accommodation. If there is a reason a district will need to consider the paper version (i.e., district lacks the necessary technology infrastructure for a successful administration), a district must submit a request through their district assessment coordinator.
Note: Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs and the WIDA Alternate ACCESS will remain paper-based.
Washington’s 4th and 5th grade students will keyboard their responses to the Writing domain test.
Students grades 4 -12 needing to handwrite responses for the Writing domain test will need a 504 or IEP accommodation.
- Test Preparation and Training
- Administrators of the paper-based test should note that if they are administering and scoring Speaking, they will need to complete the Speaking scoring training and quiz(zes) unless they completed this training at the needed grade level for WIDA Screener.
- To access the Test Administrator Training Course, please contact your district assessment coordinator (DAC) for help setting up your account.
- You must pass the certification quiz in the training course for the test you will administer.
- You do not need to show proof to your DAC that you passed your quizzes – DACs have access to your training history in the WIDA Secure Portal.
Standards and Instructional Support
Information regarding OSPI’s implementation the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 edition can be found on OSPI’s WIDA Standards, Assessments, and Professional Learning website.
Professional Learning
The following self-paced WIDA Workshops are available from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, to support effective instruction and language development for multilingual learners. All learning opportunities have free clock hours and are available to all K-12 public school educators. Private schools who opt into federal Title III services are eligible for these courses as well. Contact your school administrator for more information.
To earn free clock hours, use the following links to register through pdEnroller.
2024-25 New Courses:
- Desarrollando el Español: las expectativas del lenguaje
- Let’s Play! Multilingual Children’s Joyful Learning in PreK-3
- Reading Comprehension Across Content Areas with MLs
2024-25 Returning Courses:
- The WIDA Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Newcomers: Promoting Success through Strengthening Practice
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Teaching Multilingual Learners Social Studies through Multiple Perspectives
For questions, contact Virginia Morales at virginia.morales@k12.wa.us