Maine Comprehensive Assessment System (MECAS)
The annual assessment of English language proficiency (ELP) for all students identified as multilingual learners (MLs) in grades Kindergarten – 12 is required by federal law within the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. Maine utilizes the WIDA ACCESS Online (grades 1-12) and the WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten as the annual ELP assessment. For a very small percentage of multilingual learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities, who have been found eligible for participation in alternate assessment via the IEP Team process using state guidance resources, that assessment is the WIDA Alternate ACCESS (grades K-12).
WIDA ACCESS Online / WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten
Test Design & Standards
WIDA ACCESS and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten are aligned to the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards 2020 Edition. Maine adopted the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition in spring 2021 as a critical companion to the state educational standards.
- Access the ELD standards here: WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition
- Access Maine's educational standards here: Content Standards
Assessment Training
Test administrators participating in the required Test Administrator Training courses are a critical component in ensuring a valid and reliable administration of the assessment for all Maine students. In Maine, WIDA ACCESS Test Administrators are not required to carry an ESOL/660 endorsement. Test Administrators do need to meet the following criteria:
- Participation and completion of the applicable WIDA training course (see below)
- Knowledge of the student's Individual Language Acquisition Plan (ILAP), including familiarity with documented accommodations for instruction/assessment
| 2026-2027 Required Training for Test Administrators of WIDA ACCESS |
|---|
| Online ACCESS: Administration |
| Paper ACCESS: Administration |
| WIDA Alternate ACCESS: Administration and Scoring |
| Speaking for Grades 1-5: Scoring WIDA ACCESS Paper |
| Speaking for Grades 6-12: Scoring WIDA ACCESS Paper |
| Speaking for Grades 1-5: Scoring WIDA Screener and WIDA ACCESS Braille |
| Speaking for Grades 6-12: Scoring WIDA Screener and WIDA ACCESS Braille |
| ACCESS Braille Speaking |
| Kindergarten ACCESS: Administration and Scoring |
| ACCESS 4th grade Writing Domain (paper booklet) - Maine DOE specific |
To obtain a new WIDA Secure Portal account, Maine educators can contact their local SAU Director/Coordinator of Multilingual Programs: Contact Search Dashboard
Accessibility & Accommodations
Accommodations are changes to procedures that support equitable access for students with disabilities without lowering expectations or changing the measurement. Accommodations can be applied to the presentation, scheduling, response and setting, and should be selected by the full IEP Team (including ML educator) based on how the student is regularly accessing instruction and learning.
- For information about accommodations in assessment format, please see Special Forms below.
- For more information about accessibility features, including accommodations, on the ACCESS suite of assessments: Accessibility and Accommodations Manual
Maine DOE Scribing Protocol for WIDA ACCESS
Scoring & Reporting
WIDA ACCESS Online and WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten data provide reporting resources at the state, SAU, school and student levels. To explore reporting resources, including WIDA ACCESS Proficiency Level Descriptors, visit the WIDA website and select Resources > Scores and Reports.
- For Maine DOE professional learning on this topic, please visit the Event Calendar at: Event Calendar
- For recorded WIDA webinars on this topic, please log in to the WIDA Secure Portal > Webinars at: WIDA (login required)
Additional Resources
To view the Maine State Page/WIDA Consortium, please visit: Maine
For more information on identification, services and resources for multilingual learners and their families, please visit: Multilingual Learners
WIDA Alternate ACCESS
Test Design & Standards
WIDA Alternate ACCESS is aligned to the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards 2020 Edition. The WIDA Alternate Can DO Descriptors serve as an additional resource exemplifying what students can do at various levels of English proficiency, and are reduced in depth, breadth and complexity for the 1% population of students.
Maine adopted the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition in spring 2021 as a critical companion to the state educational standards.
- Access the ELD standards here: WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition
- Access the WIDA Alternate Can Do Descriptors here: Alternate Can Do Descriptors
Required Assessment Training
Test administrators participating in the required Test Administrator Training courses are a critical component in ensuring a valid and reliable administration of the assessment for all Maine students. In Maine, WIDA ACCESS Test Administrators are not required to carry an ESOL/660 endorsement. Test Administrators do need to meet the following criteria:
| WIDA Alternate ACCESS |
|---|
| WIDA Alternate ACCESS: Administration & Scoring |
| Certification/Re-certification required annually beginning SY 2026-2027 |
To obtain a new WIDA Secure Portal account, Maine educators can contact their local SAU Director/Coordinator of Multilingual Programs: Contact Search Dashboard
- Participation and completion of the required WIDA training course (see below)
- Knowledge of the student's Individual Language Acquisition Plan (ILAP) and IEP, including familiarity with documented accommodations for instruction/assessment
Accessibility & Accommodations
Accommodations are changes to procedures that support equitable access for students with disabilities without lowering expectations or changing the measurement. Accommodations can be applied to the presentation, scheduling, response and setting, and should be selected by the full IEP Team (including ML educator) based on how the student is regularly accessing instruction and learning.
- For information about accommodations in assessment format, please see Special Forms below.
- For more information about accessibility features, including accommodations, on the ACCESS suite of assessments: Accessibility and Accommodations Manual
Maine DOE Scribing Protocol for WIDA ACCESS
Scoring & Reporting
WIDA Alternate ACCESS data produce reporting resources at the state, SAU, school and student levels. To explore reporting resources, visit the WIDA website and select Resources > Alternate ACCESS > Scores and Reports.
For information about the Alternate Proficiency Level Descriptors, please visit the WIDA Secure Portal (login required) and select Resources > Alternate ACCESS > Scores and Reports.
- For Maine DOE professional learning on this topic, please visit the Event Calendar
- For recorded WIDA webinars on this topic, please log in to the WIDA Secure Portal > Webinars at: WIDA (login required)
Additional Resources
Maine's resources for IEP Teams determining eligibility for a student's participation in alternate assessment participation can found here: Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)
Special Forms Request
Contact
Mechelle Ganglfinger
ELP Assessment Coordinator
Phone: 207-242-4244
Email: Mechelle.Ganglfinger@maine.gov