WIDA Alternate Screener Is Coming in 2025-26
WIDA Alternate Screener is a brand-new, paper-based English language proficiency assessment given to new students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in grades K–12. It helps educators identify if students are English learners. WIDA Alternate Screener will be available to the WIDA Consortium in summer 2025.
WIDA Alternate Screener assesses each of the four language domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) and is anchored in the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition.
- WIDA Alternate Screener Features
- Can be administered at any time during the school year
- Local, trained raters administer and score the test
- Takes no more than 30 minutes total testing time (testing times will vary based upon student needs)
- Reports proficiency level scores for each language domain and for three composite scores: Oral Language, Literacy and Overall
- WIDA Alternate Screener Materials
- Tell Us About Your Child Survey (optional)
- Test administrator training course
- Test Administrator Manual
- Test Booklet (grade clusters K-2, 3-5 and 6-12)
- Test Administrator Script (grade clusters K-2, 3-5 and 6-12)
- Score sheet
When it’s released, you can download and print test materials in the WIDA Secure Portal.
- Tell Us About Your Child Survey
The Tell Us About Your Child Survey is an optional questionnaire for families/caregivers of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are potential English learners. The survey asks questions about a student’s method of communication and language, ability to understand communication and the supports used for communication. Survey information is meant to help educators better understand students’ language and communication needs.
Project Timeline
2024
July
WIDA Alternate ACCESS Standard Setting Study event takes place.
August
Recruitment opens for the WIDA Alternate Screener Validation Study.
Alternate ACCESS proficiency level cut scores set at the standard setting study event are approved. This information supports the creation of WIDA Alternate Screener scoring tables.
September
Recruitment closes for the WIDA Alternate Screener Validation Study.
October-November
Select sites participate in the WIDA Alternate Screener Validation Study.
2025
January-April
WIDA analyzes the validation study data.
April-June
WIDA finalizes WIDA Alternate Screener materials.
Summer
WIDA Alternate Screener is available for use across the WIDA Consortium.
Coming in August 2024
Apply to participate in the WIDA Alternate Screener Validation Study.
What is it?
Before we can release WIDA Alternate Screener, experts must ensure that WIDA Alternate Screener scores provide adequate proficiency level determinations. Experts need to investigate whether
- There's a high, positive correlation between students’ WIDA Alternate Screener scores and their prior Alternate ACCESS scores, especially at the higher proficiency levels.
- Test administrators believe students’ WIDA Alternate Screener scores are consistent with students' English language proficiency.
- WIDA Alternate Screener scores are consistent with how test administrators expect students to score in order to qualify for services.
During the validation study, participating educators will administer a pre-release version of WIDA Alternate Screener to students and then reply to survey questions about each student's performance. Students will participate in all domains at each cluster unless their disability prevents this.
Who participates?
- Multilingual learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities who participated in the 2023-24 Alternate ACCESS test administration. To get enough data, we’re hoping to get 150 students throughout grades K-12 to participate.
- You! (The educators who work with those students.)
When is it?
The validation study testing window opens on October 1, 2024 and closes on November 29, 2024.
Where is it?
The validation study takes place at participating school sites throughout the WIDA Consortium.
What are the benefits?
Not only will you and your students reap the benefits of the brand-new WIDA Alternate Screener, but all participating sites will receive an honorarium.
When can I apply to participate in the validation study?
WIDA Alternate Screener Validation Study recruitment starts in early August! Check back here at that time to apply to participate. Until then, tell your school/district leadership that you want to apply to participate in the validation study.