WIDA Screener Paper
WIDA Screener Paper is an English language proficiency assessment given to new students in Grades 1–12 to help educators identify whether they are English language learners (ELLs). It is available to WIDA Consortium and WIDA International School Consortium members for purchase in the WIDA Store.
Purpose
Audience
Format
Score Type
Preparing for and Administering WIDA Screener Paper
WIDA Consortium Members
Log in to the WIDA Secure Portal for a Quick Start Guide, supporting documents, and the training course for administering WIDA Screener Paper.
If you are a first-time Test Administrator or District Test Coordinator, please visit your state’s member page for state-specific instructions on how to get your WIDA Secure Portal account set up.
If you are a returning Test Administrator or District Test Coordinator and you are having trouble signing in to the WIDA Secure Portal, please contact the WIDA Client Services Center.
WIDA Screener Paper – Secure Portal Page
International Consortium Members
If you are a first-time Test Administrator, please log in to the WIDA International Secure Portal for the WIDA Screener Paper Training Course. If you are having trouble signing in to the Portal, please contact Fatima Rivera at international@wida.us.
The International Secure Portal contains the Quick Start Guide for administering Screener Paper.
Test Administration Times*
Up to 5 minutes
Up to 15 minutes
Up to 25 minutes
Up to 40 minutes
85 minutes total test time
Scoring
A Test Administrator who is also a trained local rater administers and scores the test. To become a trained rater and score responses, you must complete the WIDA Screener Paper Training Course and pass the appropriate scoring quizzes. The Test Administrator scores the Speaking domain during the test. After administration, the Test Administrator enters all scores into the Score Calculator and generates a student score report.
Using Screener Scores
Score reports provide proficiency level scores in seven categories: the four domains (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) and three composite areas (Oral Language, Literacy, Overall). Composite scores are created from two or more domain scores.
Proficiency level scores are interpretive scores. The scores describe student performance in terms of the six WIDA English language proficiency levels:
Entering > Emerging > Developing > Expanding > Bridging > Reaching
If a student is identified as an ELL, proficiency level scores from WIDA Screener can be used by educators to plan differentiated levels of support for each child.
For further explanation of proficiency levels, scores and how they connect, refer to the WIDA Screener Interpretive Guide.
Resources for Educators
Get resources specific to your state
State-specific contact information and additional testing resources, including the ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, for WIDA Consortium members.