Question of the Week
Q: When will the 2026-2027 WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS Testing Window occur?
A: The WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS Testing Window for 2026-2027 will occur Jan. 4 - Feb. 12. Please see the WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS Back-to-School Module PowerPoints and Videos coming in August for more information on these assessments.
For questions on WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessments, please contact Chris Williams.
July DAC Webcast Canceled
The July District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Webcast will be canceled this week. The next monthly DAC Webcast is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, at 11 a.m. ET.
New DAC Appointment Procedures
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) requires each district superintendent or their designee to formally appoint a new DAC when changing from the current DAC. To initiate the process, please complete the New DAC Change Form.
If a DAC wishes to update their address for shipping materials, they can complete the additional shipping update form.
Once submitted, KDE will:
- Update the Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) internal contact database with the district’s new DAC information
- Notify all associated assessment vendors to refresh system access, training rosters, and test-delivery assignments
Completing the form early ensures uninterrupted delivery of services, invitations to training sessions, and timely communication and support throughout the year.
For questions about the appointment process or the form itself, please contact the Division of Assessment & Accountability Support at dacinfo@education.ky.gov.
Get Ready to Administer WIDA Screener in 2026-2027
The 2026-2027 WIDA Screener Online administration opened in WIDA AMS on June 26. Use the following resources to help staff get ready for the upcoming school year.
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Prepare to administer WIDA Screener. The 2026-2027 WIDA Screener training courses and test administration materials are now available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Visit Kentucky's member/state page to learn about training and certification in the state. Updates for this year:
- The WIDA Screener Online Writing Prompts are no longer available in the WIDA Secure Portal. Find these resources in the Screener Scoring application in the WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS).
- Check out updated WIDA Screener Online test demos and test practice. Access these resources on the WIDA AMS login page or by logging in to WIDA AMS and selecting Public Test Resources at the bottom of the landing page. (In case staff missed it, WIDA ACCESS Online test practice and test demos are currently unavailable, but they’ll be back in September 2026.)
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Share WIDA Screener information with colleagues, students and families. Visit the WIDA Screener page on the WIDA website to prepare for testing, find handouts to explain the WIDA Screener to families and download this year’s WIDA Screener Interpretive Guide for Score Reports.
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Check out this year’s WIDA AMS updates. Review the WIDA AMS and DRC Technical Enhancements for 2026-2027 webinar recording, located on the Webinars page in the WIDA Secure Portal.
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Download the 2026-2027 student import file layout from WIDA AMS. Use this layout to ensure your WIDA Screener student imports are error free. Select the online help icon in Import Management to download the file layout and sample file.
- Know where to go for more support in WIDA AMS.
- Select the Knowledge Articles button on the WIDA AMS landing page to access a library of in-depth information on a variety of topics.
- Use the Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) Online Help feature from within an application for step-by-step instructions on how to complete tasks in Import, Student or Test Management, the Test Monitoring Application or Reporting Services. Select the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the application to get started.
For assistance, please contact DRC Customer Service or by phone (855) 787-9615.
WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual Updated for 2026-2027
The 2026-2027 Accessibility and Accommodations Manual is now available on the Resources/Recursos page on the WIDA website. This year’s updates include:
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Two new accommodations: Assistive Technology (AT) and Speech-to-Text (STT). These new accommodations apply to WIDA ACCESS Online and WIDA Screener Online.
- Updates for existing accommodations:
- Manual Control of Item Audio (MC) will now apply to WIDA ACCESS Paper, WIDA ACCESS Braille and WIDA Screener Paper only. All students taking WIDA ACCESS Online or WIDA Screener Online have access to the Play button and must manually select it to begin the screen audio.
- WIDA Screener Paper and WIDA Screener for Kindergarten are now available in large print format in the WIDA Store. The Large Print (LP) accommodation section of the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual now includes these assessments.
WIDA Accommodations Checklists have also been updated for 2026-2027. These checklists can be used to track the accommodations a student receives for WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Screener. Find the checklists on the Resources/Recursos page of the WIDA website.
In case staff missed it: Read the WIDA article about accessibility updates for 2026-2027 on the WIDA website to learn more about this year’s changes.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
Upcoming WIDA Screener Webinars
Please join WIDA and DRC to learn about the following topics:
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WIDA Alternate Screener Tuesday, July 14 at 1 p.m. CT
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WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Tuesday, July 28 at 1 p.m. CT
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WIDA Screener Online and Paper Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. CT
Learn more and add these upcoming webinars to the calendar on the Webinars page (login required). WIDA Assessment Webinars typically take an hour.
New for 2026-2027: WIDA is switching to Zoom as the meeting platform for Assessment Webinars.
Can’t make it? The recordings for Assessment Webinars are posted to the WIDA Secure Portal on the Webinars page within a week of the presentation.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
Featured Resource: MLs with Disabilities Webpage
This month, revisit the Supporting Multilingual Learners (MLs) with Disabilities webpage for tips straight from educators on how to better support MLs with disabilities. Find resources to support collaboration with educators and families, frameworks and videos to support instructional planning, recent relevant WIDA news articles and more.
For questions, please contact Chris Williams.
2026-2027 Technology Documentation Now Available in WIDA AMS
Visit the Documents page of WIDA AMS to view and download updated technology documentation for the 2026-2027 school year, including the DRC INSIGHT Technology User Guide, Site Technology Readiness Checklist for Deploying WIDA Online Assessments and the WIDA AMS User Guide. Technology staff can also access all technology resources by visiting the Resources page of the WIDA Secure Portal and selecting the Technology filter under Topic.
New this year:
For assistance, please contact DRC Customer Service or by phone (855) 787-9615.
Reminder: K Screen Train the Trainers for New Staff Approaching
KDE and Curriculum Associates will host an in-person Train the Trainers session from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, July 28, at Daviess Co. Public Schools, 4801 Frederica Street, Owensboro.
This training is required for new K Screen coordinators who will need to provide the three-hour training for teachers and district staff. This training is only required for new K Screen coordinators.
Participants are asked to bring the following items to assist with the in-person training:
- Copy of the K&1 Screen III
- The manipulatives (packages of blocks and shapes)
- Children’s books with substantial text on each page
Registration for K Screen Train the Trainers is now available. KDE will be accepting registrations until 5 p.m. CT on Friday, July 24.
Attendees will receive 6 hours of Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) credit. KDE will also be hosting a virtual Train the Trainers session in August for those who cannot make it to the July event.
For any questions, please contact Tiffany Christopher.
Reminder: G Code Status for Summer Graduates Deadline July 31
G-code end status and graduation tab for summer graduates must be entered in Infinite Campus (IC) by Friday, July 31. This information is monitored by Rodney Bennett in the Division of District Services and used by the Office of Assessment and Accountability for Graduation Rate reporting in the School Report Card. Initial graduation rates will be generated after the July 31 deadline, followed by data quality reviews and final graduation rate calculations in early August.
For cohort-related questions in the Student Data Review and Rosters (SDRR) application, districts may use the I NEED HELP button and select Cohort. Additional questions can be directed to KDEassessment or (502) 564‑9853.
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