As with NECAP, the ACCESS for ELLs assessment is the product of a partnership. Fifteen states formed the WIDA Consortium in order to respond to the NCLB requirements surrounding English Language Learners and assessment. As part of the federal regulations, all ELL students must be assessed on their knowledge of the English language. This is accomplished through the ACCESS for ELLs assessment. ACCESS assesses a student's ability to read, write, speak, and listen in English. This test is given to all ELL students in grades K-12. For more information on how the results of this assessment are used for accountability purposes, please click here.

In addition to the ACCESS test, there are two other assessments designed to help ELLs succeed in school: the W-APT (WIDA Access Placement Test) and ELP (English Language Proficiency) test. The W-APT is designed to help schools provide ELL students with the most appropriate instruction given the student's knowledge of English. The ELP is designed to ensure that ELL students are not only learning the English grammar and vocabulary used in everyday conversation but also the content vocabulary required of them in the classroom.

Below are information and resources to help teachers and administrators administer the tests and understand the results.