ACCESS for ELLs is a set of tests designed for K–12 students to measure their English language proficiency each year. It’s part of WIDA’s system that supports English learners in their education. The main goal of ACCESS is to track how well students are improving in their English skills and to help educators decide if they are ready to participate fully in English classroom activities without extra language support.Importantly, ACCESS is a standards-based test, which means your child's performance is compared to specific English language development standards set by WIDA. This means students are not ranked against each other or against native English speakers.

Educators use the results from the ACCESS test, along with other WIDA resources, to help understand and support your child's English language development. Here’s how these test scores can be helpful:They help schools understand how well students are doing.They provide a way to measure your child's progress over time.They assist in deciding if your child is ready to exit English language support services.They help place students in the right classes or groups for effective learning.They show how much progress your child has made in their English skills.