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
| 11/14/22-11/29/22 | District reviews/modifies WIDA AMS Pre-ID file in ELMS |
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| 11/30/22 | SDE submits ACCESS initial materials order and Pre-ID file to WIDA AMS |
| 12/27/22-3/3/23 | District ACCESS Online test session setup available in WIDA AMS |
| 1/12/23-1/17/23 | District receives ACCESS test materials |
| 1/12/23-2/24/23 | Additional ACCESS material ordering window in WIDA AMS |
| 1/23/23-3/3/23 | ACCESS for ELLs Test Window |
| 3/10/23 | District ships ACCESS test materials to DRC - Deadline |
| 3/28/23-4/3/23 | District pre-reporting data validation window in WIDA AMS |
| 5/5/23 | ACCESS reports and data files available online in WIDA AMS |
| 5/22/23-5/24/23 | Printed ACCESS reports delivered to districts |
| 6/12/23 | District shares ACCESS score reports with parents - Deadline |
| 5/22/23-6/2/23 | ACCESS participation rate appeals window - ISEE |
| 6/29/23 | District late returns and data corrections posted to WIDA AMS |
| 8/1/23 | ELMS update: EL status and ACCESS for ELLs scores |
Alternate ACCESS Field Test Dates
| 9/1/22-2/14/23 | District reviews students K-12 who may qualify to complete Alternate ACCESS for ELLs under IDAA Participation Criteria |
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| 9/1/22-4/17/23 | Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: Administration and Scoring training course with Alt ACCESS Field Test inclusions |
| 11/14/22-11/29/22 | District reviews/modifies WIDA AMS pre-ID file in ELMS - Designates students who qualify to complete Alt ACCESS grades 1-12 |
| 2/7/23 | District receives Alternate ACCESS Field Test materials |
| 2/7/23-4/10/23 | Additional Alternate ACCESS Field Test material ordering window |
| 2/14/23-4/17/23 | Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test Window |
| 4/19/23 | District ships Alternate ACCESS Field Test materials to DRC - Deadline |
Requirements and Resources
See below for more information around state-specific information and resources related to the annual English language proficiency assessment and English learning identification.
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 WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and/or WIDA Screener each year. 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 re-certify to administer ACCESS for ELLs each year.
- 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
Beginning September 1, 2022, all Idaho K-12 educators will have free access to the following Self-Paced Workshops:
- Classroom Teachers: Engaging Multilingual Newcomers
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Home Languages in the Classroom
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Social Studies: Engaging Multilingual Learners through Inquiry
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
The Self-Paced Workshops 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.