• WIDA ACCESS English Language Proficiency Assessments

    WIDA ACCESS is the state-mandated English Language Proficiency Assessment for English learners in grades K-12 in Indiana. The purpose of the assessment is to determine students’ level of English proficiency. ACCESS consists of the following tests; the K W-APT, WIDA Screener for Grades 1-12, ACCESS for ELLs, and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.

    K W-APT /WIDA Screener for Grades 1-12 

    K W-APT is administered to kindergarten students and is paper-based. The WIDA Screener is an online English proficiency assessment administered to students in grades 1–12. Both tests are administered only once at the time of enrollment in school. The purpose of the assessment is to determine students' eligibility for receiving English language development services.
     
    The test items are written from the model performance indicators of WIDA's five English Language Development (ELD) standards: Social and Instructional Language, Language of Language Arts, Language of Mathematics, Language of Science, and Language of Social Studies.
     
    Learn more:

    K W-APT: https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/kwapt

    WIDA Screener: https://wida.wisc.edu/assess/screener/online

    ACCESS for ELLs

    The ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) is an annual assessment that is administered each year (January through February) to determine a student's current level of English proficiency. The results of the annual assessment are also used for school accountability purposes. The criteria for fluent English proficiency used in Indiana is an Overall Composite Proficiency Level of 5.0 or higher.
     
    WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Testing Modes 
     
    Kindergarten ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS are administered individually via paper testing only. WIDA ACCESS for ELLs for grades 1 through 12 is administered online except the writing portion for grades 1-3 which will be in paper format.
     
     Domain  Kindergarten  Grade 1-3  Grade 4-12  Alternate
     Listening  Paper  Online  Online  Paper
     Reading  Paper  Online  Online  Paper
     Speaking  Paper  Online  Online  Paper
     Writing  Paper  Paper  Online  Paper
     
    ACCESS test items are written from the model performance indicators of WIDA's five English Language Development (ELD) standards: Social and Instructional Language, Language of Language Arts, Language of Mathematics, Language of Science, and Language of Social Studies. 
     
    Test Sample Items 
     
    WIDA has provided some ACCESS for ELLs sample test items to show educators, students, parents/guardians, and the general public the test content and language demands that may be found on the actual ACCESS for ELLs test. Please visit the link below to review the sample test items. A generic username and password will be displayed on the login page for you to use.
     
    ACCESS for ELLs Sample Test Items
     
    Exit Criteria for Annual Testing 
     
    In Indiana, English learners must obtain composite/overall English proficiency of 5.0 or higher to be considered as fluent English proficient. English learners who obtained composite/overall English proficiency of 5.0 or higher in the previous year will NOT need to participate in this year's WIDA ACCESS for ELLs. However, the school still must monitor the student’s academic progress for two years.
      
    To learn more about ACCESS for ELLs, visit the WIDA website below:
     
    Alternate ACCESS for ELLs
     
    Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is an assessment of English language proficiency (ELP) for students in grades 1-12 who are identified as English learners and have significant cognitive disabilities that prevent their meaningful participation in the ACCESS for ELLs assessment.
     
    Alternate ACCESS for ELLs aligns with the WIDA Alternate English Language Proficiency levels. These levels were designed to expand upon Level P1 - Entering, by increasing the sensitivity of the measure for students who have significant cognitive disabilities.
     
    Learn more about Alternate ACCESS: Alternate ACCESS
     
    Testing Accommodations
     
    The WIDA ACCESS assessment is designed with built-in universal design tools available for all English learners to show what they know at their best through the assessment. In addition, there are a few special accommodations for English learners with an IEP. More information about the accommodations is outlined in the WIDA Assessment Guidance (Indiana Department of Education) found at Indiana WIDA Assessment Guidance.
     
    English Language Proficiency Levels
     
    English Language Proficiency Levels range from 1.0 to 6.0.  The chart below shows the levels.
    elp levels