English Learner Educator Connect: Nov. 24, 2025

Nov. 24, 2025

English Learner Educator Connect

Welcome to the second edition of the Kentucky Department of Education’s English learner educator newsletter. In each edition, we’ll share upcoming opportunities, key dates and new resources and celebrate successes in English language development across Kentucky. We encourage you to share the newsletter with your teachers and colleagues to help grow our community of support.

WIDA ACCESS Playbook For Teachers

Are you seeking ways to support students as they prepare for the WIDA ACCESS assessment? Check out the recorded November Virtual Office Hours presentation: Instructional Practices to Prepare Students for WIDA ACCESS. Resources are linked in the image above and also on the KDE Title III page:

• Video 1: What’s New with WIDA ACCESS in 2025–2026
• Video 2: Intentional Preparation – Goal Setting
• Video 3: Intentional Preparation – Language Domain Practice
• Video 4: Test Administrator Essentials and Resources 
• Resource Drive with presentation

Quick Links

District Guide for the English Learners Program

EL Data Standards

Immigrant Data Standards

KDE WIDA ACCESS Page

WIDA Kentucky Page

WIDA Standards Digital

Important Dates

Nov. 19, 2025:  2024-2025 State Assessment and Accountability data released

Dec. 10, 2025:  Virtual Office Hours

Jan. 5-Feb. 13, 2026:  WIDA ACCESS Testing Window

Feb. 1, 2026:  Declaration of Participation due in GMAP

April 27, 2026:  ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports and Data posted digitally in WIDA AMS

May 1, 2026:  District Lau Plan due in Cognia

May 8, 2026:  Districts Receive Printed ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS Reports

Voices from the Field: Asset-Based Instruction for Multilingual Learners

Join us virtually on Wednesday, December 10, for a special Voices from the Field session featuring Jenn Bufkin, Multilingual Instructional Coach at Owensboro Public Schools. Jenn will share insights on “Teaching Multilingual Learners in the General Content Classroom with an Asset-Based Approach.”

This one-hour session will include a brief presentation followed by time for Q&A. Jenn was recently recognized at the Continuous Improvement Summit in Lexington this fall for her outstanding contributions to multilingual education.

Session Times:

• Morning Session: Dec. 10, 10:00–11:00 AM EST
• Afternoon Session: Dec. 10, 2:00–3:00 PM EST

Preparing for WIDA ACCESS

The WIDA ACCESS testing window is approaching, and districts across Kentucky are gearing up for a successful administration. To help you and your students prepare, explore the resources and training opportunities below:

December 11 – DAC Webcast

Hosted by Chris Williams from the Office of Assessment and Accountability. If you are unable to attend live, the presentation and recording will be available after the meeting on our Meetings and Trainings webpage.

Additional Resources for ACCESS Preparation:

• WIDA Kentucky Page   
• WIDA ACCESS Checklist
• WIDA Secure Portal (your home to WIDA Testing Trainings and critical resources like Testing Manuals, Test Essentials and more)

School Report Card

On November 19, School Report Cards were released with the 2024–2025 assessment and accountability results. Visit the Kentucky School Report Card website to access your school and district report cards.

Be sure to review:

• English Learner Progress Indicator Rating and Proficiency Rate under the School Accountability domain.
• Attainment Rate in the English Learner Proficiency tab under the Academic Performance domain.

All School Report Card datasets, domains, and tables support disaggregation by the English Learner student group.

Instructional Spotlight

WIDA Professional Learning – Lexington

A heartfelt thank you to the 57 educators from 25 districts across Kentucky who joined us in Lexington for three days of rich collaboration and professional growth. Your dedication to multilingual learner education is inspiring!

Participants from Engaging Secondary Newcomers in Content Area Literacy

KDE at Kentucky TESOL Conference - Louisville

KDE was honored to present at the Kentucky TESOL Conference in Louisville on November 8. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect, share and learn alongside passionate educators from across the state.

KyTESOL Board of Directors

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