Proficiency Levels

The WIDA Screener and ACCESS test are used to determine students' proficiency levels. The WIDA Screener is used when students first enter a school district to determine their level of English knowledge. The ACCESS test is used to measure growth in the student's proficiency each December to ensure that they are making progress and to determine if they will need ESL services the following year.

WIDA, the organization that designs the WIDA Screener and ACCESS test, has divided EL students into 6 different proficiency levels. Entering (Level 1), Emerging (Level 2), Developing (Level 3), Expanding (Level 4), Bridging (Level 5), and Reaching (Level 6).

Explanations of the abilities of students at each proficiency level are available from the WIDA website under 2012 ELD standards: