Illinois WIDA ACCESS Exit Criteria (2026)

To exit English Learner (EL) status in Illinois, a student needs an overall composite of 4.8 or higher on WIDA ACCESS.

Verified: July 2026. Exit criteria change annually; confirm with the Illinois education agency before making a decision.

WIDA ACCESS (formerly ACCESS for ELLs) exit criteria

An overall composite of 4.8 or higher

WIDA Alternate ACCESS

Under current Illinois guidance, students assessed with WIDA Alternate ACCESS cannot exit EL status through that assessment.

Monitoring after exit

4 years after exit. Federal guidance calls for districts to monitor former English learners' academic progress for at least two years; some states set a longer period.

Identification timeline

Within 30 calendar days of enrollment at the start of the school year, and within 14 calendar days for students who enroll during the year.

State terminology

Illinois uses the term English Learner (EL). Program name used in state guidance: TBE/TPI.

Sources

Verified July 2026. States revise their criteria, and the state's current guidance always takes precedence over this summary.

Frequently asked questions

What ACCESS score is needed to exit EL status in Illinois?

To exit English Learner (EL) status in Illinois, a student needs an overall composite of 4.8 or higher on WIDA ACCESS.

Does Illinois require more than the overall ACCESS score?

There is no other ACCESS score minimum.

Can students who take WIDA Alternate ACCESS exit in Illinois?

Under current Illinois guidance, students assessed with WIDA Alternate ACCESS cannot exit EL status through that assessment.

How long are former ELs monitored in Illinois?

Illinois monitors students for 4 years after exit. Federal guidance calls for districts to monitor former English learners' academic progress for at least two years; some states set a longer period.

How quickly must Illinois schools identify ELs?

Within 30 calendar days of enrollment at the start of the school year, and within 14 calendar days for students who enroll during the year. Confirm the timeline with the state's current guidance.

Compare other states

See all WIDA states in one comparison table

New to WIDA?

What is WIDA? Membership, the CAN DO Philosophy and the CAN DO Descriptors

Track exit criteria without the spreadsheet

Melaa is a tool for ML program staff. It checks each student's ACCESS scores against your state's numeric exit criteria and flags students who need a team review. The exit decision always stays with your district.

Try the demo See pricing

Melaa is not affiliated with or endorsed by WIDA or the University of Wisconsin. Exit criteria are set by each state education agency, not by WIDA or Melaa. This page summarizes public state policy for information only; it is not legal advice and does not replace your state's current guidance or your district's exit decision.

Melaa is operated by IncluSend LLC, which is licensed to use the WIDA CAN DO Descriptors, Key Uses Edition under an agreement with WCEPS, the authorized licensor of WIDA materials. WIDA is a trademark of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. The WIDA CAN DO Descriptors, Key Uses Edition are © Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and are used under license. This application of WIDA materials has not been evaluated by WIDA, and Melaa is not endorsed by or affiliated with the WIDA Consortium or the University of Wisconsin. The WIDA CAN DO Descriptors work in conjunction with WIDA Performance Definitions of the English language proficiency standards. The Performance Definitions use three criteria (1. Linguistic complexity; 2. Vocabulary usage; and 3. Language control) to describe the increasing quality and quantity of students' language processing and use across the levels of language proficiency.