Revising ACCESS for ELLs Is Coming in 2025-26
Revising ACCESS for ELLs is a multi-year project to integrate the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition into ACCESS Online, Paper and Kindergarten ACCESS. Learn more about our work to fully redesign Kindergarten ACCESS on the Redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS Is Coming in 2025-26 webpage. These updated tests will be ready for the 2025-26 ACCESS testing year.
What to Expect in 2025-26
- A typical ACCESS testing experience for students and educators
- We made all changes to the test behind the scenes, so that the test administration experience remains the same
- Score reports are released according to your regular schedule
- ACCESS test content is consistent with what you are teaching in the classroom
- Brand-new, easy-to-use language charts that help tie ACCESS scores to classroom assessment
- A new assessment name, WIDA ACCESS (we are removing “for ELLs” from all ACCESS assessments)
Timeline
Fall through Winter 2023
Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs cognitive labs at select sites throughout the WIDA Consortium
Winter 2023 through Spring 2024
- ACCESS for ELLs Paper field test in the state of Florida only
- ACCESS for ELLs Online field test content is embedded in the test (Note: Field test content is always embedded in ACCESS Online)
- Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs pilot testing at select sites throughout the WIDA Consortium
Winter 2024 through Spring 2025
- ACCESS for ELLs Online field test content is embedded in the test
- Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs field test at sites that sign up to participate
Winter 2025 through Spring 2026 (and beyond)
Revised ACCESS for ELLs and redesigned Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs are used by all sites in the WIDA Consortium
Standard Setting 101
What is standard setting?
Anytime an organization significantly revises an assessment, like we’re doing with ACCESS, they must conduct a standard setting study. Standard setting is when a group of select, trained educators determine proficiency level scores and set cut scores for an assessment. 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 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.
Standard setting must be conducted after the first annual administration of a revised assessment.
Who attends the standard setting event?
Standard setting panelists are English language and content teachers, as well as school and district administrators from across the WIDA Consortium. They are experts who work with multilingual learners and are familiar with ACCESS. Members of the WIDA Executive Committee (state leaders who represent various WIDA subcommittees) and WIDA's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) are present to oversee the process, and data experts will be there to analyze data. Staff from WIDA and the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) host and facilitate the event.
Video Resources
Watch Revising ACCESS: The Impact of the Standards Framework, 2020 Edition (5 minutes) to learn about
- How ACCESS for ELLs connects to the WIDA English Language Development Standards
- Key elements of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition
WIDA tip: This video gives a solid intro to ACCESS and the 2020 Edition. Share it with content area educators or anyone who needs a refresher on what ACCESS is and how it connects to the ELD Standards Framework.
Watch Revising ACCESS: Emphasizing Standard 1 in the Listening and Reading Tests (4 minutes) to learn about
- Standard 1 and how it fits in the WIDA ELD Standards Framework
- How Standard 1 will affect the structure of Listening and Reading test items
WIDA Language Charts
The WIDA Language Charts are a new resource that can help you understand and communicate the expectations of the revised ACCESS for ELLs (WIDA ACCESS).
The charts connect WIDA ACCESS to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework and make the Proficiency Level Descriptors clearer, more actionable and directly connected to classroom instruction.
The new Language Charts are a resource for all educators, even those without specialized language backgrounds. Learn more about the charts in the How to use our new language charts right now news article.
Using the Charts
Use the Language Charts to
- Get familiar with the revised expectations of WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten
- Collaborate with content area colleagues
- Plan curriculum, instruction and classroom assessment
- Trace student growth in language development from unit to unit
Note: Beginning with WIDA ACCESS scores in the 2026-2027 WIDA testing year, you can also use the Language Charts to interpret and communicate about ACCESS scores.
Language Charts
The charts are available in two formats:
- Use the pdf version of the WIDA Language Charts to review content anytime, print the charts or share the charts with colleagues.
- Use the Excel version of the WIDA Language Charts to easily copy and paste information into your own spreadsheet tools, create personalized charts or customize the charts for individual or small groups.
Related Resources
- Language Charts Informational Slides: Introduce colleagues to the WIDA Language Charts by using the Meet the WIDA Language Charts informational PowerPoint slides.
- Language Charts Facilitator Toolkit: Make the WIDA Language Charts the next discussion topic of your professional learning community! Pair the WIDA Language Charts Facilitator PowerPoint slides with the WIDA Language Charts Participant Handout. Since this slide deck takes an in-depth approach to using the Language Charts, plan at least 60-90 minutes for your collaborative group meeting. Note: Facilitators should be very familiar with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition.