English Learner Educator Connect: Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

Nov. 2, 2026

Kentucky School Report Card

The 2025-2026 Kentucky School Report Card highlights encouraging progress for English learners (ELs) across the Commonwealth. Kentucky’s active EL population continues to represent 8% of the state’s total student enrollment, and the report card reflects growth in English language development and academic achievement.

Most notably, Kentucky’s EL attainment rate increased to 11.5%, up from 9.7% in 2024-2025, marking the highest exit rate in more than five years. Growth was also reflected in the Progress on English Language Proficiency indicator, with elementary schools earning a Very High rating and middle schools earning a High rating, both rising from the previous year. High schools maintained a Medium rating.

Academic outcomes for ELs and monitored students showed positive momentum as well, with increases in both reading and mathematics performance across elementary, middle and high school levels. In addition, high school postsecondary readiness for ELs reached 60.2%, the highest level reported to date. This increase demonstrates significant improvement while also emphasizing the need to continue expanding opportunities and supports that help English learners achieve postsecondary success.

Kentucky’s English learners continue to make gains across multiple measures, demonstrating steady progress statewide.

Important Dates

Nov. 2: EL data verification in Infinite Campus

Nov. 10 and 17: Expanding Reading Instruction with Multilingual Learners (WIDA virtual webinar)

Nov. 14: Kentucky TESOL conference in Lexington, Ky.

Nov. 18: Translanguaging: Access without Translation (Voices from the Field)

Dec. 1 and 8: Virtual English Learner Leadership Summit

Quick Links

Find EL program information and timelines on the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Title III – English Learner and Immigrant Students website.

Explore tools and resources to support EL program implementation on KDE’s English Learner and Immigrant Resources website.

Visit KDE’s WIDA ACCESS website for training videos, resources and important WIDA links.

Register Now: Virtual Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit

Join colleagues from across the Commonwealth for the winter Virtual Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Each morning (10-11:30 a.m. ET; 9-10:30 a.m. CT) and afternoon (2-3:30 p.m. ET; 1-2:30 p.m. CT) session will explore a current problem of practice related to English learners and feature educators from around Kentucky sharing strategies, successes and lessons learned from their local work.

Attend any or all sessions to connect, collaborate and learn with fellow EL leaders. A detailed agenda and session access information will be shared with registered participants closer to the summit dates.

Register for the Virtual Kentucky English Learner Leadership Summit.

November Voices from the Field: Laurel County Public Schools

Join the Laurel County Public Schools EL team for this month’s Voices from the Field session, “Translanguaging: Access without Translation,” which focuses on the power of translanguaging and its role in supporting language development and grade-level learning. The session will highlight practical ways to create opportunities for translanguaging in the classroom and use this powerful asset to strengthen learning for ELs.

The session will include examples from practice, strategies you can implement across content areas and grade levels, and time for participant questions and discussion.

Session time and registration

10-11 a.m. ET; 9-10 a.m. CT Nov. 18

Register for Translanguaging: Access without Translation on Nov. 18.

What’s New with WIDA ACCESS for 2026-2027

As you prepare for the upcoming ACCESS administration, please note an important update for students testing online. Beginning this year, students will be responsible for starting the audio on each test screen by selecting the Play button when they are ready. Since audio will no longer begin automatically, schools are encouraged to provide practice opportunities so students are familiar with this feature before test day.

Explore WIDA ACCESS test practice and sample items and WIDA Alternate ACCESS sample items to help students and staff prepare for testing.

WIDA offers multilingual WIDA ACCESS family handouts and WIDA Alternate ACCESS family handouts. Share these resources with families to help them understand the purpose of English language proficiency testing.

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