What WIDA does

WIDA is a non-profit educational organization housed within the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education that develops and delivers English language proficiency assessments for K-12 multilingual learners. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, WIDA operates a consortium-based model serving more than 40 U.S. states, territories, and federal agencies, with over 2 million students completing ACCESS testing annually across four language domains (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing). The organization employs 276 staff and is governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

WIDA's product portfolio consists of three assessment suites anchored in the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition: WIDA ACCESS (annual summative assessment), WIDA Screener (on-demand identification and placement), and WIDA MODEL (flexible interim assessment), each distributed in Online, Paper, and Kindergarten variants with Alternate versions for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Technical delivery is provided through two core technology partners: Pearson (MODEL Online via TestNav, ADAM, and LaunchPad) and Data Recognition Corporation (ACCESS and Screener via DRC INSIGHT and WIDA AMS). The 4-year test development cycle incorporates item writing, educator review, field testing, and psychometric analysis, with content co-developed with the Center for Applied Linguistics.

WIDA generates revenue primarily through consortium membership fees paid by state education agencies, supplemented by assessment materials sales through the WIDA Store (store.wceps.org), MODEL Online subscriptions, professional learning fees, and international/independent school licensing. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales to government buyers, e-commerce for non-member purchases, and OEM/embedded delivery through Pearson and DRC platforms. The organization also operates the WIDA Annual Conference (1,500+ educators), the WIDA Fellows program, and an extensive free instructional resource library — functions that reinforce the consortium ecosystem rather than produce standalone revenue.

Name

WIDA

Legal name

Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Website

https://wida.wisc.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

WIDA is a University of Wisconsin-Madison non-profit that develops English language proficiency assessments for K-12 multilingual learners, serving a consortium of 40+ U.S. states, territories, and federal agencies with over 2 million students assessed annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Educational Assessment

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Language Schools (61163), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Assessment, Placement Testing & Proficiency Certification Tools (EDAFAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB)

Keywords

• English language assessment
• K-12 language proficiency
• Multilingual learner assessment
• English language development
• Standards-based assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consortium Membership Fees: WIDA Consortium is a member-based organization. States, territories, and federal agencies pay membership fees to access WIDA assessments including ACCESS as a primary benefit of membership. The consortium includes over 40 U.S. states, territories, and agencies.
2. Assessment Materials Sales: WIDA Store sells assessment materials including MODEL Paper kits by grade-level cluster, MODEL for Kindergarten kits, Screener Paper materials, student response booklets, and score sheets. Available to both consortium members and independent schools for purchase.
3. MODEL Online Platform: MODEL Online computer-based assessment available for purchase through WIDA Store with member discounts for consortium states. International and independent schools can also purchase access to the platform administered through Pearson LaunchPad/ADAM.
4. Professional Learning and Resources: Self-paced workshops, webinars, and professional development resources. WIDA Store also sells printed materials including Can Do Descriptors, Early Years Descriptors, and other instructional resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WIDA develops and distributes K-12 English language proficiency assessments and instructional resources for multilingual learners, operating as a consortium of more than 40 U.S. states, territories, and federal agencies housed within the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Education. Its core products are the ACCESS suite (annual summative assessment), WIDA Screener (on-demand identification assessment), and WIDA MODEL (flexible interim assessment), all anchored in the proprietary WIDA ELD Standards Framework and delivered via computer-adaptive and paper-based formats with support for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Product overview

WIDA offers a comprehensive suite of English language proficiency assessments and instructional resources for K-12 multilingual learners. The core assessment portfolio consists of three main product lines: WIDA ACCESS (summative annual assessments in Online, Paper, and Kindergarten formats including Alternate ACCESS for students with significant cognitive disabilities), WIDA Screener (on-demand identification/placement assessments in Online, Paper, Kindergarten, and Alternate formats), and WIDA MODEL (flexible interim assessments in Online, Paper, and Kindergarten formats). These assessments are anchored in the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework and use a common six-level proficiency scale. Assessments are delivered through technology partnerships with Pearson (MODEL Online via TestNav/ADAM/LaunchPad) and Data Recognition Corporation (ACCESS/Screener Online via DRC INSIGHT/WIDA AMS). Supporting resources include Can Do Descriptors, Accessibility and Accommodations Manual, and various online score calculators. WIDA operates as part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education and serves a consortium of U.S. state education agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WIDA ACCESS: Suite of summative English language proficiency assessments for grades K-12
• WIDA Screener
• WIDA MODEL
• WIDA Alternate ACCESS
• WIDA Español
• WIDA Consortium

Products and services

• WIDA ACCESS Suite Comprehensive suite of summative English language proficiency assessments given annually to English learners in grades K-12 to monitor achievement and measure progress in English language development. Includes Online (computer-adaptive, grades 1-12), Paper (semi-adaptive), Kindergarten, and Alternate ACCESS (for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities) formats. Tests cover four language domains (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) on a 100-600 scale with proficiency levels 1-6, and serve as a primary benefit of WIDA Consortium membership for federal ESSA compliance.
• WIDA Screener Suite Flexible, on-demand English language proficiency assessment suite for grades K-12 that helps educators identify whether new students are English learners. Available year-round in Online, Paper, Kindergarten, and Alternate formats, with Listening and Reading automatically scored during administration. Free to WIDA Consortium members; paper kits available for purchase to consortium members and independent schools.
• WIDA MODEL Suite Suite of flexible, on-demand English language proficiency assessments for grades K-12 that can be administered up to two times per year to monitor interim progress and predict student performance on WIDA ACCESS. Includes Online (semi-adaptive, administered via Pearson LaunchPad/ADAM/TestNav), Paper (semi-adaptive, sold as grade-level cluster kits), and Kindergarten formats. Available to consortium members and to international and independent schools through the WIDA Store, with CEFR-level score interpretations for international contexts.
• WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework Proprietary standards framework providing a foundation for curriculum, instruction, and assessment for multilingual learners in kindergarten through grade 12. The 2020 Edition is the current version being incorporated into WIDA assessments, anchored in five English Language Development Standards that guide WIDA's assessment and instructional products.
• Can Do Descriptors Instructional resource suite that highlights what multilingual learners can do at various stages of language development. Includes the K-12 Key Uses Edition (Recount, Explain, Argue, Discuss), Early Years edition, Alternate Can Do Descriptors for students with significant cognitive disabilities, and the Spanish-language Los descriptores Podemos. Available through the WIDA Store.
• Accessibility and Accommodations Manual Comprehensive manual guiding selection and administration of Test Administration Considerations, Universal Tools, and Accommodations for English Language Learners to produce valid assessment results, supporting braille, large print, and multimodal delivery options across WIDA assessments.
• WIDA AMS (Assessment Management System) Web-based administrative platform provided by Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) for score reports, Screener scoring materials, test tickets, data validation, and ACCESS material ordering. Used by consortium members and districts to administer all WIDA ACCESS and Screener assessments, including paper-based formats.
• WIDA Secure Portal Secure online portal for WIDA Consortium members providing access to ACCESS and Screener materials, test manuals, checklists, training courses, and other member-exclusive resources.
• WIDA Professional Learning and Conference Programs Professional development offerings including self-paced workshops (e.g., Reading Comprehension Across Content Areas with Multilingual Learners), webinars covering assessment administration and instructional strategies, and the WIDA Annual Conference (drawing more than 1,500 educators of multilingual learners annually). These programs support consortium members and other educators implementing WIDA assessments and the ELD Standards Framework.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIDA partners with the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) to create new test content aligned to the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. CAL's design team creates unique graphics to support test items and WIDA staff reviews, refines and approves the content. CAL also conducts ACCESS Online Listening and Reading Post Field Test Review meetings annually to review statistics and content of field-tested items.
• Data Recognition Corporation (DRC)coreTechnology or IntegrationDRC serves as WIDA's test delivery partner for ACCESS and Screener assessments. DRC processes scored tests for reporting, provides WIDA AMS for administrative functions, and delivers DRC INSIGHT secure browser for online assessments. DRC also completes scoring processes for WIDA ACCESS.
• PearsoncoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson provides the technology platforms for WIDA MODEL Online testing including LaunchPad (login and rostering platform), ADAM (test management platform), and TestNav (secure student test delivery browser). WIDA MODEL Online is administered through Pearson's platforms.
• WIDA Consortium Member States and AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe WIDA Consortium is a member-based organization with over 40 U.S. states, territories, and federal agencies. Members participate in standards development, provide feedback on assessments, and receive ACCESS and other assessments as primary benefits of membership. The consortium includes states like Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, and many others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Others

• Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL): CAL is a WIDA content co-development partner that creates test items aligned to the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. Comparable as a language-focused research and assessment content organization serving the same K-12 EL educator and policy community.
• Data Recognition Corporation (DRC): DRC is WIDA's test delivery partner for ACCESS and Screener assessments (WIDA AMS, DRC INSIGHT) and a broader K-12 assessment services provider. Comparable as an assessment operations and scoring vendor serving similar state education agency customers with custom assessment programs.

Direct peers

• ELPA21 Consortium: ELPA21 is a multi-state consortium that developed the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century, the most direct competing consortium-based K-12 EL proficiency assessment to WIDA ACCESS. Both serve state education agencies with similar federal compliance-driven assessment products.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson Assessment: Pearson is both a WIDA technology partner (LaunchPad/ADAM/TestNav for MODEL Online) and a broader K-12 assessment publisher. Comparable as a major assessment technology and content provider serving state education markets with overlapping product portfolios in standardized testing.
• Curriculum Associates (iReady): Curriculum Associates develops iReady diagnostic assessments and instructional tools used widely in K-12. Comparable as a major K-12 assessment and instruction provider with similar district-level purchasing relationships, though not focused on EL proficiency specifically.
• ACT, Inc. ACT is a major non-profit assessment organization offering ACT, ACT Aspire, and other K-12 assessments. Comparable as a large-scale, standards-based assessment organization serving similar state education agency customers with comparable psychometric rigor and federal compliance alignment.
• Educational Testing Service (ETS): ETS is a major non-profit educational measurement organization that develops and administers standardized assessments (TOEFL, GRE, K-12 assessments). Comparable to WIDA as a fellow large-scale, standards-based assessment developer serving institutional and government customers, though ETS serves a broader test portfolio beyond EL proficiency.
• Renaissance Learning: Renaissance Learning provides K-12 assessment (Star) and instructional practice products widely adopted by U.S. school districts. Comparable as a scaled K-12 assessment and learning analytics vendor serving the same district procurement channels.
• NWEA: NWEA develops MAP Growth and other K-12 interim and formative assessments used by school districts across the U.S. Comparable as a major K-12 assessment provider serving similar district and state customers, though focused on general academic growth rather than EL proficiency specifically.
• College Board: College Board develops SAT, AP, and other K-12/postsecondary assessments used nationally. Comparable as a large-scale, non-profit assessment organization serving similar state education agency and institutional customer base with similar regulatory and psychometric complexity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WIDA_UW
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@widauw?si=q8bVrALV9NE39V0k
• Facebookfacebook.com/WIDA.UW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wida-consortium
• Instagraminstagram.com/wida_uw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WIDA