English Learner Educator Connect: Apr. 20, 2026

Apr. 20, 2026

Preparing for WIDA ACCESS Score Reports

Student score reports for the 2026 WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS will be available digitally through the WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS) on Monday, April 27. Paper score reports will be delivered to districts by May 7 or 8. Please coordinate with your District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) to access these materials. The scores will be published to the student assessment records in Infinite Campus mid-to-late July.

To help prepare for these results, check out the refreshed ACCESS Scores and Reports website that includes the 2026 WIDA ACCESS Interpretive Guide for Score Reports, the WIDA Alternate ACCESS Interpretive Guide for Score Reports, the revised WIDA ACCESS: Understanding Your Child’s Scores flyer and the updated WIDA ACCESS Parent Letters.

As a reminder for the 2025-2026 school year, the exit criteria for WIDA ACCESS is a score of 4.5 or higher in tier B/C. For WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten, the exit criteria is also a 4.5 or higher. The revised exit criteria for WIDA Alternate ACCESS is a PL3 or higher.

Quick Links

English Learner and Immigrant Resource Page

District Guide for the English Learners Program

EL Data Standard

Immigrant Data Standard

KDE WIDA ACCESS Page

WIDA Kentucky Page

WIDA Standards Digital

Important Dates

April 22: Voices from the Field: Kenton Co. Schools

April 27: ACCESS and Alt. ACCESS Reports and Data posted digitally in WIDA AMS

May 1: District Lau Plan due in Cognia

May 7 - May 8: Printed ACCESS and Alt. ACCESS Reports to districts 

June 15-16: KyCEL Summer Institute - Owensboro

June 17: Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit - Owensboro

July 7: Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit - Lexington

Professional Learning Opportunity

Voices From the Field April: Data to Action- Turning EL Data into Instructional Impact

Just in time for ACCESS scores being released, learn from Mrs. Kacie Adams, EL Coordinator for Kenton County School District, on Wednesday, April 22, as she shares concrete examples of how her district analyzes multiple data sources, including WIDA ACCESS, Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) and classroom assessments, to identify student needs, guide instructional grouping, and plan meaningful language and content supports. 

Participants will learn strategies for interpreting data trends, aligning language development with academic goals and making actionable decisions that accelerate EL growth, leaving with practical tools to transform assessment results into effective, data‑driven instructional plans.

Session Time & Link

• April 22: 10-11 a.m. ET, 9-10 a.m. CT 

Recordings from Previous Session

Check out the recording from last month’s Voices from the Field spotlight on Jefferson County’s Office of Multilingual Learner leadership team as they showcased the multi-year work to build the capacity for all through an asset-based approach.

• Video 1: Building Awareness and Breaking Down Siloes (Year 1)
• Video 2: Focus Priority Implementation (Year 2)
• Video 3: Prioritizing with a Strategic Plan “Big Rocks” (Year 3) 
• Presentation Slides and Resource Document

Scholarship Opportunity Still Available: KyCEL 2026 Summer Institute Registration Support

The Kentucky Coalition for English Learners (KyCEL) 2026 Summer Institute will be held June 15–16 in Owensboro, KY, featuring nationally recognized presenters and keynote speakers focused on supporting multilingual learners. Registration is currently open on the KyCEL website.

Districts are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the KDE Registration Scholarship opportunity. KDE is offering up to two registration scholarships per district to support educator participation and significant availability remains. Educators interested in using this scholarship should contact their local EL Coordinator, who has access to the scholarship request form.

Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit

District leaders should have received a registration link and additional details for the inaugural Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit, a newly established full‑day convening for district EL directors, coordinators and other leaders. If you did not receive this communication or have any questions, please contact KDE Multilingual Learner Specialist Will Spalding.

Important Dates

By May 1, district leaders must upload their annually updated English Learner (EL) Program "Lau Plan" to Cognia and post it publicly on the district website. This essential document outlines how the district meets its civil rights and ESSA obligations and ensures readiness to serve EL students. Please remember that an up-to-date Lau Plan must be maintained and submitted, even if your district currently has no EL students enrolled. 

Educational Resources

Featured WIDA 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.

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