How Standard Setting Impacts 2026 WIDA ACCESS Scores

By: Katie Stenz

In the 2025-2026 school year, WIDA released updated versions of WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten and WIDA ACCESS (grades 1-12) that are based on the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework, 2020 Edition, which is the current edition of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework.

Before that, Kindergarten ACCESS and ACCESS were based on the 2012 edition of the WIDA ELD Standards.

Since WIDA assessments are standards-referenced tests, which means that student performance is compared to the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, federal law requires that our assessments are based on the most recent edition of our standards framework used by states.

Note: We updated WIDA Alternate ACCESS (K-12) in 2023-2024. Alternate ACCESS scores in the 2025-2026 school year are not affected by the changes to ACCESS.

What happens after an assessment gets updated?

After students take an updated assessment based on new standards, we need to make sure that student scores still give an accurate picture of a student’s English language development. This process happens during a standard setting event after the first administration of the updated assessments.

Standard setting events don’t happen very often. Even though we refresh ACCESS test content every year, a standard setting event is needed only when the assessment gets major updates that may change the rigor of the English language proficiency expectations.

What happens during a WIDA standard setting event?

During a WIDA standard setting event, trained educator panelists will gather to set cut scores for an assessment. In the case of the ACCESS Standard Setting, panelists will meet July 28-31, 2026.

Cut scores describe the level of student performance needed to meet the expectations of each proficiency level. For example, what scale score does a student need on ACCESS to receive a proficiency level of 2 or 3 at their grade level? Cut scores also help states determine the appropriate level a student must achieve on ACCESS to be considered proficient in English.

How does the standard setting event impact ACCESS scores?

Since standard setting happens in July after score reports are prepared, everyone will need to approach 2026 ACCESS score reports with a bit of care:

• You can use scores to make decisions about students for the 2026-2027 school year – either to exit students or decide on classroom placement.
• You should treat scale scores as a new baseline to measure growth as you cannot compare scale scores from previous years.
• You should use proficiency level scores with caution as they will reflect the old proficiency level cut scores, which were set in 2016.

In 2027, you’ll be able to resume using scale scores to understand student growth. If we need to explain any changes to proficiency level cut scores after the standard setting event, we will publish relevant resources in 2027.

What are useful 2026 ACCESS score resources?

The WIDA ACCESS Interpretive Guide for Score Reports is the single best place to find information about how to use 2026 ACCESS score reports.

The WIDA Language Charts are another useful resource. Even though you should interpret 2026 ACCESS scores with caution, the WIDA Language Charts still provide insight into the revised expectations of ACCESS.

The newly redesigned ACCESS Scores and Reports page is home to general score report information and resources to share with families.

Key takeaways

• ACCESS was updated and is now based on the current edition of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework.
• In July, we’ll hold a standard setting event to make sure student scores still give an accurate picture of a student’s English language development.
• You need to treat the information on the 2026 ACCESS score reports with a bit of care because of the standard setting event.
• Find important ACCESS score report information in the WIDA ACCESS Interpretive Guide for Score Reports (scroll up a section to find a link to the guide).