Research Publications

This report describes key components of high quality professional development for educators of English language learners.

Published May 2014 
Author: Daniella Molle

This report describes how different student ability restrictions may affect item characteristics in the ACCESS multistage adaptive testing, and presents options for item administration in field testing.

This study examined the ways in which educators across the WIDA Consortium use WIDA’s English language proficiency standards, and in particular the model performance indicators (MPIs).

Published May 2013 
Author: Daniella Molle

This study examined how English learners in Grades 1-12, with and without disabilities, used online accessibility features during an ELP assessment. These accessibility features are designed to provide the necessary support for the general EL population, including ELs with disabilities.

Published March 2019 
Authors: Ahyoung Alicia Kim, Meltem Yumsek, Mark Chapman, H. Gary Cook

This report describes a research study conducted by WIDA to link scores on the WIDA MODEL Online tests of Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The results of the study are cut scores for each of the four language domain tests that are recommended for classifying test takers according to the levels of the CEFR.

This research brief presents findings and policy implications from a recent research study exploring the so-called long-term English learner (LTEL) population across WIDA states. The findings highlight a continuing need for research that rejects an overly simplistic understanding of the LTEL designation. The next phase of this research will use student- and school-level data from three states to examine how individual and school factors can affect the diverse trajectories of ELs’ language development over time.

Published January 2019

This report discusses an interdisciplinary and interorganizational endeavor to support the science education of multilingual youth: the Making Science Multilingual program. More specifically, the report addresses the rationale for the program, milestones it accomplished, resources it required, and challenges it faced.

Published November 2020 
Authors: Daniella Molle, Weiqiong Scarlett Huang

Technology-enhanced items (TEIs) are innovative, computer-delivered test items that are more authentic and interactive than traditional multiple-choice items (MCIs). This study examines the performance of grades 1–12 English learners on TEIs compared to MCIs on the reading domain of ACCESS for ELLs Online.

Published December 2020 
Authors: Ahyoung Alicia Kim, Rurik L. Tywoniw, Mark Chapman

By addressing the intersection of practice and academia, teachers are encouraged to be more involved in implementing evidence-based approaches and becoming more familiar with research informing their classroom practice directly. Engaging in pracademics highlights the work of teacher experiences and promotes the inclusion of practitioners' voices in the field.

Vea y descargue en español.

This report addresses three primary questions:
1. How do you determine a meaningful English language performance standard?
2. How do you establish a realistic, empirically anchored time frame for attaining a given ELP performance standard?
3. How can states take into account English learners’ English language performance level when setting academic progress and proficiency expectations?

Published May 2013

This Technical Report describes a validation study of the newly developed WIDA ACCESS writing scoring scale by examining its feasibility in differentiating student ability and practical scoring use. TR-2024-1.

Published: April 2024
Author: Ping-Lin Chuang
Additional authors: Mark Chapman, Kyoungwon Bishop, Ahyoung Alicia Kim

The purpose of this technical report is to describe the 2020 content refreshment and field test of WIDA MODEL Online tests for grades 1–12.

This 2012 report describes the development, validity and reliability of the WIDA MODEL assessment for Grades 1-2 and 3-5.

This 2012 report describes the development, validity and reliability of the WIDA MODEL assessment for Grades 6-8 and 9-12.

In this study, completed for the Maryland State Department of Education, we explore the perceptions, experiences and decision-making of 27 parents of young multilingual children, ages birth to 5 years. The focus revolves around children’s language learning and development, family engagement practices and children’s participation in early care and education (ECE) programs.

Published 2020

In this study, completed for the Minnesota Department of Education, we explore the perceptions, experiences and decision-making of 15 parents of young multilingual children, ages birth to 5 years. The focus revolves around children’s language learning and development, family engagement practices and children’s participation in early care and education (ECE) programs.

Published 2020

In this study, completed for the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning, we explore the perceptions, experiences and decision-making of 13 parents of young multilingual children, ages birth to 5 years. The focus revolves around children’s language learning and development, family engagement practices and children’s participation in early care and education (ECE) programs.

Published 2020