Back to school 2024-25: Assess, teach, grow with WIDA

By Hannah Haynes

Here’s a list of what you need to know about WIDA assessments, resources for the classroom and professional learning opportunities for the 2024-25 school year.

Assess

• For information about ACCESS for ELLs, WIDA MODEL and WIDA Screener, check out the What to know: WIDA assessments in the 2024-2025 school year article.
• Help your general education colleagues get up to speed on what ACCESS for ELLs is and how it works. Two articles published by Education Week are intended for general education teachers. Readers can even try sample test items to see what types of things students are being asked. We hope you'll share them with colleagues!
• Curious about what’s in the works for WIDA assessments? WIDA is in the throes of several assessment development projects:
  • We’re redesigning Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs! Coming next is the Kindergarten ACCESS Field Test 2025. Apply to participate in the field test.
  • We’re revising ACCESS for ELLs to incorporate the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework. Watch the Revising ACCESS: The Impact of the Standards Framework, 2020 Edition video to learn more about this work.
  • We’re gearing up to launch the brand-new WIDA Alternate Screener in summer 2025. Before we release the test, we are conducting a validation study. Learn more about this important study and apply to participate in it!
  • We’re getting ready to release WIDA Alternate ACCESS score reports this fall. Get a refresher on our work to update WIDA Alternate ACCESS before score reports come out.

Teach

• New school year, new students. We’ve got you covered with this article that explores five strategies to welcome newcomers into your classroom.
• As you continue to implement the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition in your classrooms, don't forget to utilize valuable tools such as our Implementation Guide, the Proficiency Level Descriptors (PLD) snapshot or the KLU posters that highlight the Key Language Uses (Narrate, Inform, Explain, Argue) for reference during instruction, discussions or reflection at the end of a lesson.

Grow

• Attend #WIDA2024 virtually to experience a sampling of the WIDA Annual Conference. This year’s virtual track is revamped, and features include
  • One full day of live sessions on October 15
  • An exclusive virtual keynote presentation
  • A choice of four sessions during each session block
  • Live stream of the in-person keynote presentation on October 16
  • Access to recordings of the virtual track sessions after the event

Learn more and register for the #WIDA2024 virtual track.

• Six free webinars are coming your way, starting this month! WIDA Webinars are a free virtual learning opportunity offering insights and resources on many topics relevant to multilingualism. View the upcoming offerings and register to attend on the WIDA Webinars page.
• WIDA professional learning offers two formats of virtual workshops that allow WIDA Consortium members to bring quality professional learning right to your computer. Learn more about facilitated and self-paced offerings on the eLearning page.
• Attend a WIDA Academy in 2025! WIDA Academies are in-person professional learning workshops and will focus on a variety of topics relevant to educators of multilingual learners. Watch for an announcement in September with dates, location and topics!

Research

• Spend some time with the five Focus Bulletins published this year
  • Using Embedded Universal Tools to Support Students’ Test-taking Experience
  • Keeping the Conversation Going: The Role of Interaction in Language Development
  • Expanding Reading Instruction with Multilingual Learners
  • A Story of Collaboration and Transitions for Multilingual Children
  • Trauma Informed Considerations and Strategies for Multilingual Learners
• Peruse the Research page to dig deeper into how WIDA experts are leading the way on effectively teaching and assessing multilingual learners.
• A recent report from WIDA found that proficiency scores for ELs have continued to decline since the pandemic. This article explores that report and tells you what you need to know.

Stay Connected

• Get the best of WIDA in your inbox. We offer several newsletters and informational emails on a variety of topics related to multilingual learners. Subscribe to receive messages from WIDA.
• Follow us on social media. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest news in multilingual learner education and to enter one of our social media giveaways!

Reach Out

If you need anything from WIDA, our Client Services Specialists are just a phone call or email away. All of us at WIDA appreciate you and want to make sure you have what you need to best support students and families.