Illinois is in the process of re-examining the exit criteria for WIDA ACCESS and establishing criteria for the WIDA Alternate ACCESS.
Learn more about the plan in the video below:
English Learner Exit Criteria: Proposed Process for WIDA ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS
Additional opportunities to engage will be forthcoming.
Who is impacted by the criteria?
- Students
- Eligibility for EL-specific services
- Educational experiences and opportunities
- Schools and districts
- Programming and service delivery
- Staffing and resource decisions
- State
- State and federal accountability (ESSA amendment required)
- Required data and reporting
Why Now?
Three main factors are influencing the timeline.
- Updated WIDA standards and proficiency levels
- ACCESS Standard Setting (July 2026)
- WIDA established a new scale and new performance levels on that scale.
- Additional evidence since 2017
- ISBE began tracking Former English learners in 2017, providing new evidence on academic outcomes after students exit status.
- Opportunity to address a gap
- Illinois does not currently have established reclassification criteria for students taking Alt-ACCESS
