Question of the Week
Q: Are there refreshed resources for the 2025-2026 WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS score reports?
A: WIDA ACCESS score report dates are approaching. The following key resources are available to help district and school staff understand and communicate scores with colleagues, students and families.
- The refreshed ACCESS Scores and Reports page now features links to important resources for families and educators at the top, a comprehensive look at the pieces of the Individual Student Report (ISR), key information to know about the scores and an overview of how scores are used.
- Visit the WIDA Alternate ACCESS page for information about WIDA Alternate ACCESS score reports for educators and families. Scroll down to the Resources to Share with Families section for the WIDA Alternate ACCESS: Understanding Your Child’s Scores flyer.
- WIDA revised the WIDA ACCESS: Understanding Your Child’s Scores flyer. This key family resource explains how WIDA ACCESS scores are used and includes an overview of domain and composite proficiency levels and scale scores supported by graphics. Additionally, a list of questions to support families’ conversations with their child’s school is included. The flyer is available in the top 18 languages in the consortium.
- WIDA also updated the WIDA ACCESS Parent Letters. These family-focused letters are available in the same 49 languages as the ISR and can be edited to include the school or district-specific information.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
KSA PAN Tasks and Reminders
PearsonAccessnext (PAN) for the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) opened on March 30. Refer to the reminders below for tasks to be completed in PAN before KSA district test windows open.
- Order Braille or Large Print accommodated materials. These orders can only be placed by District Assessment Coordinators (DACs). Consult the Create an Order for Materials Guide for assistance.
- Create and add students to test sessions.
- Print student and proctor testing tickets.
For assistance creating test sessions, refer to the Create Test Sessions Guide located on the Resources tab of the KY Portal. The KSA Important Dates and KSA Roadmap to Success documents provide important reminders and timelines for completing all KSA tasks.
If you have any questions about PAN, please contact Pearson Kentucky Customer Service at 888-437-1430.
KSA Office Hour Session 2
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA), in collaboration with Pearson, will host an office hour session on Wednesday, April 15. Pearson will provide a tutorial to assist DACs and Building Assessment Coordinators (BACs) with tasks to be completed in PAN, including starting sessions, transferring students and attending to Work Requests. DACs, BACs and all test administrators will be able to ask questions and receive assistance during this time. Questions can be submitted prior to the office hour using the KSA Office Hour Session Two Form. Please use the meeting link below to join the Teams meeting:
KSA Office Hour Session 2 – Wednesday, April 15, 10-11 a.m. ET
KSA Office Hour Session 3 will occur on Wednesday, May 13, 10-11 a.m. ET. The link to Office Hour #3 will be shared in a future Monday DAC email. Please note that the questions asked during the office hour sessions should be specific to the KSA administration and not include personal identifying information.
For questions, please contact Jessica Brumley.
New Article: How Standard Setting Impacts 2026 WIDA ACCESS Scores
District and school staff need to take a bit of extra care when using WIDA ACCESS scores this year. Read WIDA's new article, How Standard Setting Impacts 2026 WIDA ACCESS Scores, to learn about the upcoming standard setting event and what it means for scores this year.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
Free WIDA Webinar on Aligning Curriculums to the WIDA ELD Standards Framework
The next WIDA Webinar, “Strategies for Aligning Your Curriculums to the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework,” is scheduled for Monday, April 20, from 12-1 p.m. CT. This webinar will break down a genre-based approach to analyzing and amplifying the integration of content and language in curricula across three criteria. Join WIDA to take a close look at the Curriculum Amplification Guide and think about how it could work across various contexts. Register for the aligning curriculums webinar here.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
WIDA Annual Conference Giveaway
The 2026 WIDA Annual Conference will take place Sept. 15-18, in St. Louis, Missouri, under the theme "Building Gateways to Colaboración.” Visit the conference website for need-to-know information, including a schedule overview, registration rates and more. This year’s event also includes a curated virtual track.
Enter to win! WIDA is giving away registrations to attend #WIDA2026 in St. Louis. Review the Sunday, April 12 post on the Facebook or Instagram page to learn how to enter.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
SDRR Hot Topic Office Hours Series
OAA will host a series of four office hours on various hot topics in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application. The topics, dates, times and link to the Teams meetings below may be forwarded to any district and school users of SDRR who may benefit from attending these sessions:
First Office Hour- SDRR Resources: Where to Get Assistance- April 14, 1-2p.m. ET
Second Office Hour- Spring Rosters Task List and Ticketing Basics- April 21, 1-2 p.m. ET
Third Office Hour- Requesting Nonparticipations- April 28, 1-2 p.m. ET
Fourth Office Hour- Determining 100-Day Accountability: Rules and Tools- May 5, 1-2 p.m. ET
The office hours will be hosted via Microsoft Teams meetings. The sessions will start with a review and a demonstration of SDRR functions, followed by questions. OAA encourages all district and school users of SDRR to join and ask questions on SDRR. Attendees are not required to register for the office hours, and the office hours will not be recorded.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
2025–26 TRACK Pre-Apprenticeship Assessment Retest Window: April 15–30
The retest window for the 2025–2026 Tech Ready Apprenticeship for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) Pre-Apprenticeship (Carpentry, Electrical, Welding) Assessment is April 15–30. Eligible students, those who tested during the initial window and did not meet the benchmark, have retest tickets automatically generated and available in E-SESS. Eligible students may choose to retest in TRACK, but are not required. All TRACK retesting must be completed by April 30. Please visit the Tech Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) and CTE EOP Assessment webpage for more information.
Contact the Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) at kdeeopsupport@education.ky.gov, or Sherri Craig, OCTE, at 502-564-4286 ext. 4226 with any questions.
April DAC Webcast Highlights
OAA Division of Assessment and Accountability Support (DAAS) hosted its live monthly DAC Webcast on Thursday, April 9, from 11 a.m. - 12 noon ET. Director Shara Savage, along with Krista Mullins and Christen Roseberry, shared timely updates on assessment and accountability, including:
- Kentucky Alternate Assessment Updates
- K Screen Reminders
- College Admissions Exam: SAT Updates and Reminders
- KSA/AKSA Site Visits
- Status of HB 257
- Future DAC Webcasts
The recording and presentation materials are now available on the KDE Media Portal and the KDE Meetings and Trainings page. Future broadcasts are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. ET.
Reminder: AKSA Window 2 Administration Begins Tuesday, April 14
Administration of Window 2 for the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessment (AKSA) begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, May 22. The Student Registration Database (SRD) will open for score entry on Tuesday, April 14 and will close on Friday, May 29. All scores must be entered into the SRD by the close of business on Friday, May 29.
For questions, please contact Krista Mullins.
Reminder: Spring 2026 SAT Junior State Administration – Office Hour #6
OAA and College Board will host an office hour on Tuesday, April 14, from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET focused on scores and the K-12 Reporting Portal. There will be approximately 10 minutes for a review of topics already covered in prior training, followed by time for questions. Registration is not required for office hours. As a reminder, office hours are not recorded.
For any questions, please contact Christen Roseberry.
Reminder: K Screen Refresh Training Office Hour
OAA, in collaboration with Curriculum Associates, will host the upcoming K Screen Refresh Office Hour on Thursday, April 16, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET. This session will provide support for districts as they prepare for the upcoming K Screen administration, including a review of key information from the K Screen Implementation Guide and Refresh Training to ensure a smooth and successful screening process.
The Office Hour will offer an opportunity to receive guidance, ask questions in real time, and gain clarification on expectations and processes. Participants are also encouraged to submit questions in advance using the K Screen Office Hour Form to ensure topics of interest are addressed during the session.
For questions, please contact Tiffany Christopher.
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