Idaho
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2015.
Assessments
Idaho employs the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten to kindergarten and first-semester grade-one students, and the WIDA Screener to second semester grade 1-12 students as one part of Idaho’s English learner (EL) identification process.
ACCESS for ELLs is given annually to all identified ELs who have an EL status of ‘L1’, ‘LE’, or ‘EW’ reflected within Idaho’s English Learner Management System (ELMS). The annual test window typically opens in late January and runs through early March. The Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is given concurrently with the ACCESS for ELLs administration, and is only administered to students who have met the Idaho Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria.
For a comprehensive overview of the Idaho English Language Proficiency Assessment, visit the English Language Proficiency Assessment webpage on the Idaho State Department of Education website.
Testing Dates
| 11/16/20 | Idaho SDE submits student Pre-ID file to WIDA AMS |
|---|---|
| 12/29/20-3/19/21 | WIDA AMS test setup available for test sessions |
| 1/14/21-1/18/21 | Districts receive test materials |
| 1/15/21-3/12/21 | Additional test materials ordering window in AMS |
| 1/25/21-3/19/21 | Test Window |
| 3/26/21 | Deadline for shipping completed test materials to DRC |
| 4/13/21-4/19/21 | Pre-reporting data validation – LEAs in AMS |
| 5/26/21 | Districts receive reports – Online |
| 6/17/21-6/21/21 | Districts receive reports – Printed |
Requirements and Resources
See below for state-specific information and resources related to English language proficiency assessments, including Idaho’s ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, where you can find each step in the ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.
ACCESS for ELLs Checklist Identification and Placement Guidance
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State Testing Requirements
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English Language Proficiency Assessment - Screener
- Districts are required to administer either WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or WIDA Screener (second semester grade 1-12) to potential EL students as to determine eligibility into English language support services. This must be completed within 30 calendar days of enrollment.
- Districts must log into ELMS to verify whether a student has previously been identified as an EL prior to administering WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or WIDA Screener.
- Districts are required to submit screener scores from WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or WIDA Screener into ELMS following the completion of the screener assessment.
English Language Proficiency Assessment - Summative
- English learners in grades 1-12 are required to complete all sections of ACCESS for ELLs annually.
- Kindergarten EL students will complete the paper-based Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs.
- English learners in grades 1-12 who meet the Idaho Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria are required to complete the paper-based Alternate ACCESS for ELLs annually.
- The WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual must be reviewed prior to administering an English language proficiency assessment as to ensure the appropriate supports and/or accommodations are provided.
- Districts are required to administer either WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or WIDA Screener (second semester grade 1-12) to potential EL students as to determine eligibility into English language support services. This must be completed within 30 calendar days of enrollment.
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Test Preparation and Training
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English Language Proficiency Screener: WIDA Screener/ WIDA Screener for Kindergarten
- Test Administrators (TAs) must become certified to proctor the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and/or WIDA Screener each year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022). Training and certification quizzes are accessible via the WIDA Secure Portal.
- Prior to administering a WIDA English language proficiency screener, districts must use Idaho’s English Learner Management System to verify that a child does not already have an EL status.
English Language Proficiency Assessment: ACCESS for ELLs
- Test Administrators are required to recertify to administer ACCESS for ELLs each year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022).
- Test administrators must complete all grade-level and domain specific ACCESS for ELLs trainings and certification quizzes prior to proctoring: ACCESS for ELLs, Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs, or Alternate ACCESS for ELLs. Test Administrators must attain a score of 80% or higher on each quiz to become certified.
Professional Learning
All Idaho K-12 educators have free access to eight self-paced eWorkshops that offer relevant and practical strategies and content that seek to advance content-driven language instruction. The eWorkshops topics are outlined below:
- Classroom Teachers: Engaging Multilingual Newcomers
- Developing Language for learning in Mathematics
- Doing and Talking STEM
- Leading for Equity: Classroom Walkthrough
- School Improvement Planning for Multilingual Learners
- Social Studies: Engaging Multilingual Learners through Inquiry
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
- WIDA Writing Rubric
The eWorkshops are accessible via the WIDA Secure Portal. To obtain a WIDA Secure Portal account, contact your district’s ACCESS Test Coordinator or contact WIDA Client Support Services directly at help@wida.us / (866) 276-7735.