What is WIDA ACCESS?
States must administer an English language proficiency (ELP) assessment to active multilingual learners (MLs) in grades K through 12 in order to comply with federal requirements. Section 1111(b)(2)(G) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that districts assess all MLs using an annual ELP assessment, including those students whose parents/guardians have declined to enroll them in, or had them removed from, MLP services. The current ELP assessment administered for this purpose is WIDA ACCESS through the WIDA Consortium.
WIDA Alternate ACCESS is a large-scale test of ELP of MLs with significant cognitive disabilities for students in grades K-12. The WIDA Alternate ACCESS is a product of a collaborative effort by the multistate WIDA Consortium and has been developed based on the WIDA Alternate ELP levels which were designed to increase the sensitivity of the measure for these students and give them a chance to demonstrate what they can do with language.
All students in grades K-12 who are identified as active ML Students must take WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS each spring. This includes student whose parents have waived direct MLP services. MLs must continue to take WIDA ACCESS until they meet the requirements for full English proficiency as established by the Office of Federal and State Accountability.
WIDA Alternate ACCESS is an individually administered paper and pencil test. It is intended only for MLs with significant cognitive disabilities severe enough to prevent meaningful participation in the WIDA ACCESS assessment. Students with disabilities who can demonstrate progress in their language development by taking WIDA ACCESS with accommodations should continue to do so. Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams must consider the following participation criteria to decide whether the WIDA Alternate ACCESS test would be an appropriate assessment for their student:
- The student has been classified as an ML.
- The student has a significant cognitive disability and receives special education services under IDEA (2004).
- The student requires extensive direct individualized instruction and substantial supports to achieve measurable gains in the grade and age-appropriate curriculum.
- The student is or will be participating in his or her statewide alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards.
Additionally, due to the nature of student's disability, some students may not be able to access all four domains of the WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS test. Therefore, a district may submit a request for Less Than 4 Domains (LT4D), formally called Access-limited.
When are WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS administered?
Testing window for 2025-26: January 21-March 6, 2026
Precode collection: November 20, 2025
DTC Test Administration Pre-Test Webinar: December 1, 2025; 11 am-12:30 pm
Key Dates for 2025-26
| Event |
Date |
| Early shipment of TAMs |
11/14/2025-11/17/2025 |
| WIDA AMS test setup available for test sessions |
12/29/2025 |
| Districts receive test materials |
1/15/2026 - 1/16/2026 |
| Additional test materials ordering window in AMS |
1/16/2026 - 2/27/2026 |
| Test Window |
1/21/2026 - 3/6/2026 |
| Deadline for shipping completed test materials to DRC |
3/20/2026 |
| Pre-reporting data validation – LEAs in AMS |
4/17/2026- 4/28/2026 |
| Reports and Data Files Available - Online in WIDA AMS |
5/14/2026 |
| Reports Available in Districts - Printed (On) |
5/28/2026-5/29/2026 |
| Post-reporting data validation – LEAs in WIDA AMS |
5/19/2026 - 5/26/2026 |
| Updated Data Posted in WIDA AMS |
6/9/2026 |
English Language Proficiency Test Administrator Training and Certification Requirements
The SCDE requires annual certification for the administration of all WIDA assessments. Certification training and quizzes are provided through the WIDA Secure Portal and must be completed prior to test administration. To receive WIDA certification, test administrators will need to score eighty percent (80%) or higher on the quizzes that are applicable to the assessment(s) they will be administering. Training for WIDA Assessments will be available online beginning September 1st of each academic year. Training for WIDA Screeners are available all year.
Reference the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Training and Certification Requirements for all requirements.
Additional Professional Learning Opportunities
WIDA Resources
WIDA’s Website contains links to many useful resources. WIDA supports local trainers (facilitators, coordinators, or test administrators) by offering free use of its training materials related to English Language Development (ELD) Standards, WIDA ACCESS , and the WIDA Screener. However, Test Coordinators and Test Administrators need to log in to the WIDA Secure Portal in order to access many of the documents and the personal training accounts.
Test Security Agreements for 2025-26
2025-26 WIDA ACCESS, WIDA Alternate ACCESS , and WIDA Kindergarten ACCESS
WIDA Alternate ACCESS Assessment Monitors
An assessment monitor is required and must observe all assessment sessions and verify the use of proper assessment procedures and the authenticity of student responses for each completed assessment. Parents, guardians, foster parents, or other family members of any students in the assessment classroom may not serve as assessment monitors for any student in that class. Monitors must receive training to become familiar with the items, administration procedures and scoring. Prior to the assessment, the test administrator or the DTC-Alt must meet with the monitor and review the following:
- the expected schedule of the assessment sessions
- test security requirements
- how the items will be administered and the scoring procedures
- the purpose of the Test Administrator Security Affidavit
- The monitor’s responsibilities:
- observing all administration sessions without interfering or distracting the test administrator and the student;
- assisting the test administrator with logistics, if requested; and
- reading and signing the Test Administrator Security Affidavit and Agreement to Maintain Test Security and Confidentiality.
Information for Students and Parents
Accessibility Information
The South Carolina Department of Education is committed to making its electronic documents accessible for parents/guardians and other individuals with disabilities, and for parents/guardians whose native language is not English. All documents posted on this Website are compliant with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)), as amended.
Alternate Format Requests for Student and Parent Assessment Resources
Assessment documents are available for parents and/or guardians in alternate formats, such as large print, Braille, languages other than English, and oral translation. Alternate formats can be requested from the SCDE or from your child’s school.
If you wish to obtain a copy of an assessment brochure or the Sample Individual Student Report in an alternative format, or if you have questions regarding these resources, please complete the Student and Parent Resources Alternate Request Form. If you have any questions about alternate format requests, please contact ResourceRequests@ed.sc.gov or call (803) 734-8289.
For additional parent resources related to Assessments, please visit the Parent Resource page.
Additional Resources and Information
