WIDA MODEL Online Introduces Major Enhancements for 2026-2027

By Hannah Haynes and Katie Schultz

This July, WIDA is making significant enhancements to WIDA MODEL Online, designed to increase flexibility, reduce testing time and deliver real-time insights, all while maintaining the research-backed reliability that sets WIDA apart.

WIDA updates the MODEL platform on a rolling basis, but more significant enhancements come each July to align with the new academic year. Read on to learn about the upcoming enhancements.

Faster, More Flexible Reporting

Historically, MODEL Online score reports have only become available once all four language domains have been completed and a Writing score has been entered. Starting in July, scores for completed domains will populate as soon as the domain test is submitted or scored locally (in the case of Writing). Users will no longer need to wait for all four domains to be completed to generate an Individual Student Report (ISR) for a student. Educators will be able to decide how many of the four domains to administer without affecting score availability. This means that, for the first time, users will have the flexibility to administer fewer than four domains based on local needs, instructional priorities or progress monitoring goals. For example

• Monitoring progress in Literacy? Administer only Reading and Writing and receive Reading, Writing and Literacy composite scores.
• Tracking Listening growth midyear? Administer only Listening and receive the Listening score right away.

All four domains will still be assigned during test assignment, but test administrators can choose to stop after one, two or three domains as needed. This supports local policy flexibility while maintaining consistency in licensing and assignment. As domain tests are submitted and scored, reporting will update automatically, and scores for completed domains will display on the student’s ISR and on the Performance Dashboard.

Like WIDA ACCESS, WIDA MODEL was originally designed to be a four-domain assessment. As a result, WIDA continues to recommend administering all four domains and relying on the overall composite score for the most accurate and reliable measure of a student’s current proficiency level. Administering all four domains ensures students are exposed to items anchored in each of the five WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Statements and that students have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in speaking, writing, listening and reading.

WIDA MODEL is the only interim English language proficiency (ELP) assessment that aligns with the WIDA ELD Standards Statements, WIDA Can Do Descriptors and other WIDA assessments and educator materials.

Why These Changes?

These enhancements are in direct response to educator feedback WIDA has gathered through surveys and customer conversations. These changes address the following concerns and requests:

• Concerns about loss of instructional time due to the amount of time it takes to administer all four domains of the assessment
• The desire to monitor progress in specific areas (e.g., Speaking and Writing only)

WIDA has been laying the groundwork to make this change possible for the last several years. In case you missed it, MODEL Online moved to a new test platform last July. This transition allowed WIDA to

• Simplify test flow.
• Remove the Writing Quick Score.
• Update track placement rules so domain tests can be administered in any order.

These behind-the-scenes enhancements made it possible to unlock truly flexible domain-level administration.

What’s Next?

The MODEL Online Test Administrator Manual (TAM), WIDA MODEL Interpretive Guide for Score Reports and other MODEL platform training and documentation will be updated as needed for the 2026-2027 school year.

Alongside flexible reporting, WIDA is also launching two highly requested usability improvements:

1. Simplified TestNav login for all grades

Starting in July, students in all grades will log in using a simple Quick ID and four-digit Pin. Students will also have the option to log in by scanning a QR code on their printed test card.

2. No more reseating

Students will be able to log back into their assessment after a crash or exit without requiring test administrator reseating, reducing disruptions and administrative burden.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the new WIDA MODEL webpage.