Resources/Recursos

In February, 2011, WIDA published a Focus Bulletin on Language and Culture, which was enormously popular, and which continues to be requested by readers. This Focus Bulletin has been reformatted and lightly edited to emphasize current WIDA resources and terminology.

This Focus Bulletin explores linguistic and cultural diversity in school, and how teachers, staff and parents can help multilingual learners feel welcome, confident, and prepared to succeed academically. 

Published September 2019 
Authors: Don Bouchard, Mariana Castro, Andrea Cammilleri

Released December 2019

This Focus Bulletin explores the kind of spoken English language that multilingual learners benefit from developing, showing how that oral language is described in WIDA standards resources and assessed on the ACCESS for ELLs Speaking test.

Published October 2019 
Authors: Mark Chapman, Dale Erlandson

Released November 2019

This working paper presents findings from a series of educator interviews conducted to understand how schools in the WIDA International School Consortium use MODEL.

Released November 2019

This Focus Bulletin illustrates how educators in featured International Baccalaureate schools are integrating WIDA resources as they design lessons for multilingual learners.

Published June 2019 
Authors: Jon Nordmeyer, Ruslana Westerlund, Elizabeth Cranley, Anne Katz

Released June 2019

This working paper presents findings from a survey conducted in 2018 to understand how schools in the WIDA International School Consortium use MODEL.

Published 2019

Released May 2019

The illustrated models and procedures can be applied to calculate overall composite scores to identify an indicator of English language proficiency, based on composite scores for English learners with 504 or individualized education plans who are missing one or more domain scores on the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners assessment for state monitoring, achievement and accountability determinations.

Released May 2019

This WIDA Focus Bulletin introduces readers to the four pillars of Language-Focused Family Engagement and provides tools to help educators examine their local family engagement practices.​

Published September 2018
Author: Delis Cuéllar, Alissa Blair, Lorena Mancilla

Released April 2019

WIDA research findings show that MODEL Online overall composite scale scores can predict overall composite proficiency level (PL) scores on ACCESS for ELLs. Use the table in this document to look up a student's overall composite scale score on MODEL Online and estimate the PL score that they would be likely to receive on ACCESS.

Released April 2019

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

Released March 2019

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

Released January 2019

This study aimed to investigate how 1–2 English language learners (ELLs) in grades 1-2 differ in their performance on a writing test in two test modes: paper and online. Overall, there was a significant effect of test mode on ELLs’ test performance. More specifically, ELLs displayed noticeably better performance when being tested on paper.

Released January 2019

This ALTELLA Report explores how item and task development – a critical component of assessment design – might be implemented for an alternate assessment of English language proficiency standards.

Released October 2018

This research report summarizes findings from a recent WIDA study exploring the potential long-term English learner (LTEL) population across 15 geographically-representative WIDA member states during the period 2009-10 through 2014-15. The findings highlight a continuing need for research that rejects an overly simplistic understanding of the LTEL designation. Additionally, future research should more carefully examine how educational systems, practices, and policies structure the experiences and diverse trajectories of students identified as LTELs.

Published October 2018
Authors: Narek Sahakyan and Sarah Ryan

Released October 2018

This study examines how 476 K–12 educators in 35 U.S. states identify and place English learners in language instruction educational programs. Findings reveal information about these educators, the instruments and information sources they use for decision making, and their perceived appropriateness of the decisions. Results provide practical implications for improving the English learner identification and placement decision at the district and school levels.

Released October 2018

This article advocates for language-focused family engagement in schools serving multilingual students, emphasizing the importance of honoring home languages as critical to students’ cognitive and academic growth. The text highlights that schools still discourage the use of home languages, sending harmful messages that devalue students’ identities and limit the inclusion of their familial language practices in curriculum.

Released August 2018

This WIDA Focus Bulletin explores ways to strengthen reasoning and language in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Published January 2017 
Author: Rita MacDonald

Released April 2017

Based on a U.S. Department of Education guide, these model analyses illustrate procedures a state could use to compare and contrast school-level overall and English learner accountability determinations for proficiency in reading/language arts. These examples are provided only to illustrate how a state could undertake them as part of its efforts to develop and explore a theory of action for assessment of recently arrived English learners.

Released March 2017

This WIDA Focus Bulletin outlines ways in which educators can provide English Language Learners with disabilities access to complex language via classroom activities and engagement opportunities.

Published March 2017 
Authors: Lynn Shafer Willner, Cynthia Lundgren, Mira Monroe, Julia Cortada

Released February 2017

This chapter shares the findings and materials from a pilot of a professional development approach that offered science teachers a set of resources to help facilitate students’ collaborative and discourse-rich reasoning in science. Educators will find resources and insights to help enact the 3-D vision of science in ways that include the number of English learners in United States classrooms. 

Released January 2017

This research examines the educational practices and perceptions of two working-class Mexican transnational families currently living in a midwestern city in the United States. Findings indicate that for transnational families and their children, educational inclusion is about successfully developing the languages and language repertoires that children will need in their translocal educational institutions “here” and “there.”

Released January 2017