Resources/Recursos

This report provides information about the student’s scores on the ACCESS for ELLs English language proficiency test. This test is based on the WIDA English Language Development Standards and is used to measure students’ progress in learning English. Scores are reported as Language Proficiency Levels and as Scale Scores.

Released February 2025

Student Roster Reports show individual students' domain, composite and overall scores. There are separate reports for each grade.

Released February 2025

School frequency reports show the number of students who've tested at each proficiency level for all domains. There are separate reports for each grade.

Released February 2025

State Frequency Reports show the number and percentage of tested students who scored at each proficiency level. There are separate reports for each grade.

Released February 2025

District Frequency Reports show the number and percentage of tested students who scored at each proficiency level. There are separate reports for each grade.

Released January 2025

Released October 2024

In this webinar recording, WIDA experts explain the decision-making process for choosing whether a multilingual learner should take ACCESS for ELLs or WIDA Alternate ACCESS. The webinar provides newfound insights and strategies.

Released August 2024

This Technical Report describes a validation study of the newly developed WIDA ACCESS writing scoring scale by examining its feasibility in differentiating student ability and practical scoring use. TR-2024-1.

Published: April 2024
Author: Ping-Lin Chuang
Additional authors: Mark Chapman, Kyoungwon Bishop, Ahyoung Alicia Kim

Released April 2024

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

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

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

This comprehensive document explains the types of scores reported by ACCESS for ELLs for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Released February 2023

This flyer provides a breakdown of the role school/district-level educators, state-level administrators and WIDA play in using or developing ACCESS Online and Paper test scores, interpreting scores and making decisions based on scores to best serve English learners. Plus, there’s a checklist outlining the positive and intended outcomes of using ACCESS Online and Paper scores, so you’ll always know what it takes to ensure your students have the supports they need.

Released July 2022

Motivated by findings of a 2018 WIDA report pointing to large overlap between ELs with Individualized Education Program (IEP) designations and those ELs who could be identified as LTELs, this study further focuses on these dual-identified students. Grouping ELs by ever-IEP (i.e., being assigned an IEP at any point in the longitudinal record) and never-IEP status, we compare these two subgroups’ English language growth trajectories across time. Our findings show consistent trends of differential growth and reclassification rates for these two subgroups.

Published November 2021 
Authors: Narek Sahakyan, Glenn Poole

Released November 2021

This letter, available in many languages, contains general information about ACCESS for ELLs and is meant to accompany ACCESS for ELLs score reports as an explanation for parents and guardians. It is provided in an editable format to allow districts and schools to include additional information regarding test administration dates and state policy.

Released December 2020

This technical report aids WIDA Consortium members and stakeholders in producing imputed overall composite scale scores and proficiency levels for students who are missing scores in one or two domains due to a disability. 

Published September 2020 
Author: Narek Sahakyan

Released September 2020

Send this flyer home with students along with the ACCESS for ELLs Individual Student Report. This flyer explains each piece of score information included in the report. Use this guide, available in several languages, to help parents understand what scores mean and how they are used.

Released July 2020

Send this handout, available in multiple languages, home with students as an introduction to ACCESS when testing is scheduled or as a reminder before scores are shared. This flyer explains what ACCESS is and why student take this kind of assessment. Use this resource to help parents understand annual language proficiency testing.

Released July 2020

Use the WIDA Writing Rubric to understand the scores students earn on ACCESS for ELLs (Online and Paper), analyze student performance in the classroom, and plan ways to scaffold language learning.

Note: Do not use this rubric to score WIDA assessments. Find relevant scoring tools in the appropriate WIDA assessment training course. 

Released January 2020