Resources/Recursos

This handout, available in multiple languages, is a resource that educators can send home with students to give families an introduction to WIDA Alternate ACCESS. The handout explains what WIDA Alternate ACCESS is and why students take this kind of assessment.

Released October 2023

This WIDA Focus Bulletin explores educators’ and students’ perceptions of the accessibility tools available to all students when taking an online WIDA assessment. The bulletin emphasizes the ways in which the universal tools can support the test-taking experience for multilingual learners.

Published October 2023 
Authors: Jason A. Kemp, Ahyoung Alicia Kim

Released October 2023

The Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) is a Spanish language development standards framework with Language Functions and sample Language Features designed to guide Spanish language development. Este documento guía el desarrollo del lenguaje español de forma auténtica a ese lenguaje y a contextos bilingües mediante expectativas del lenguaje que contienen funciones del lenguaje y ejemplos de recursos lingüísticos.

Written in Spanish with English summaries

Released October 2023

Learn how WIDA is more than a test! Mr. Vega is a 6^th grade EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher at an international school who works with colleagues and families to support multilingual learners. Follow Mr. Vega all year long, as he focuses on what his students can do, using WIDA resources to collaborate and plan effective learning activities throughout the school year.

Released September 2023

Alternate ACCESS for ELLs technical reports provide evidence for validity and reliability of Alternate ACCESS for ELLs and support intended uses, interpretations and decisions made with the test.

This is the redacted report for the 2022-2023 administration of Alternate ACCESS for ELLs. Item information is removed from the report.

Released August 2023

​When educators think of language instruction in science, the traditional practice of pre-teaching vocabulary comes to mind. This Focus Bulletin builds on new research and offers resources for embedding vocabulary instruction into students’ participation in the science and engineering practices.

Released August 2023

The Alternate Proficiency Level Descriptors (Alternate PLDs) are an extension of the PLDs found in the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards, 2020 Edition, and describe the continuum of language development for ELs with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The Alternate PLDs are organized into five levels of English language proficiency for two communication modes: interpretive and expressive. Refer to the Glossary and Text Examples section for definitions of terms and examples of student responses. WIDA, with the help of classroom educators, created these proficiency levels to be unique to WIDA Alternate ACCESS.

Released August 2023

This guide helps IEP teams determine if a student should take the WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessment, or the ACCESS for ELLs (Online or Paper) assessment with accommodations.

Released August 2023

Individual Characteristics Questionnaire (ICQ), which is part of WIDA Alternate ACCESS, captures characteristics of students who take Alternate ACCESS. Test Administrators will fill out the ICQ for each student and that information will be reported on the Individual Student Report. ICQ information can help educator teams make program decisions for students. Prior to administering Alternate ACCESS, download and print this example ICQ and use it to consult with Individual Education Plan (IEP) team members about students. Final responses will be entered on the Student Response Booklet.

Small changes were made to the ICQ from 2023-24 to 2024-25.

Released August 2023

This accessibility manual was developed to guide the selection and administration of Test Administration Considerations, Universal Tools, and Accommodations for individual English Language Learners (ELLs) in order to produce valid assessment results.

Released August 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives for ACCESS for ELLs Paper.

Released June 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives on ACCESS for ELLs Online.

Released June 2023

Checklist for IEP teams to prepare for administration of WIDA Alternate ACCESS.

Released June 2023

Checklist for IEP teams to prepare for administering Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs.

Released June 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives on WIDA Screener for Kindergarten.

Released June 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives on WIDA Screener Online.

Released June 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives on WIDA Screener Paper.

Released June 2023

ACCESS for ELLs Online technical reports provide evidence for validity and reliability of ACCESS for ELLs Online and support intended uses, interpretations, and decision made with the test. This is the redacted report for the 2022-2023 administration of ACCESS for ELLs Online without item information.

Released June 2023

This Focus Bulletin explores the process of evaluating student writing, and examines how educators can consistently evaluate the written language of multilingual learners. It provides strategies for educators to support evaluations that generate focused and helpful feedback for students.

Released June 2023

ACCESS for ELLs Paper technical reports provide evidence for validity and reliability of ACCESS for ELLs Paper and support intended uses, interpretations, and decision made with the test. This is the redacted report for the 2022-2023 administration of ACCESS for ELLs Paper without item information.

Released June 2023