Resources/Recursos

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the first in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the second in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the fifth in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

This report describe how WIDA applied Differential Item Functioning analysis among multiple disability groups of our Alternate ACCESS Field Test items in 2023.

Released December 2023

This handout, available in multiple languages, is a resource that educators can send home with students to give families an introduction to WIDA Alternate ACCESS. The handout explains what WIDA Alternate ACCESS is and why students take this kind of assessment.

Released October 2023

This WIDA Focus Bulletin explores educators’ and students’ perceptions of the accessibility tools available to all students when taking an online WIDA assessment. The bulletin emphasizes the ways in which the universal tools can support the test-taking experience for multilingual learners.

Published October 2023 
Authors: Jason A. Kemp, Ahyoung Alicia Kim

Released October 2023

The Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) is a Spanish language development standards framework with Language Functions and sample Language Features designed to guide Spanish language development. Este documento guía el desarrollo del lenguaje español de forma auténtica a ese lenguaje y a contextos bilingües mediante expectativas del lenguaje que contienen funciones del lenguaje y ejemplos de recursos lingüísticos.

Written in Spanish with English summaries

Released October 2023

A language-focused approach to planning applies an equity and language lens to the design of active and engaging learning opportunities for young children. Explore this tool to learn more about the what, how and why of a language-focused approach to planning equitable learning opportunities for multilingual children.

Released September 2023

The Alternate Proficiency Level Descriptors (Alternate PLDs) are an extension of the PLDs found in the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards, 2020 Edition, and describe the continuum of language development for ELs with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The Alternate PLDs are organized into five levels of English language proficiency for two communication modes: interpretive and expressive. Refer to the Glossary and Text Examples section for definitions of terms and examples of student responses. WIDA, with the help of classroom educators, created these proficiency levels to be unique to WIDA Alternate ACCESS.

Released August 2023

This list has recommended readings and references for PreK-3 educators and leaders to use to explore equitable language-focused transitions for multilingual children and their families.

See the Teaching in PreK-3 page for context.

Released August 2023

This guide helps IEP teams determine if a student should take the WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessment, or the ACCESS for ELLs (Online or Paper) assessment with accommodations.

Released August 2023

This accessibility manual was developed to guide the selection and administration of Test Administration Considerations, Universal Tools, and Accommodations for individual English Language Learners (ELLs) in order to produce valid assessment results.

Released August 2023

Checklist for IEP teams to prepare for administration of WIDA Alternate ACCESS.

Released June 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives for WIDA ACCESS Paper.

Released June 2023

A checklist for tracking the accommodations a student receives on WIDA ACCESS Online.

Released June 2023

Checklist for IEP teams to prepare for administering WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten.

Released June 2023

This concept tool provides an overview for adopting a language-focused approach to play for multilingual children in PreK- third grade. This is the first of five resources intended to support PreK-3 educators to advocate for and incorporate joyful learning with multilingual children in their setting.

Released June 2023

What should PreK educators consider as they adopt a language-focused approach to planning equitable learning opportunities for multilingual children? Use this Annotated Guide to explore guiding questions designed to help you use the Language-Focused Planning Tool.

Released June 2023

This research project explored the patterns of district-level ELL “growth” for the 2007-2011 time period and identified the existence of “high-flying” and “low-cruising” districts within ACCESS for ELLs in terms of ELL growth.

Published May 2013
Author: Narek Sahakyan

Released May 2023

Envíe este volante a los hogares con los estudiantes, junto con el Informe individual del estudiante de Alternate ACCESS. Este folleto provee información sobre cada aspecto de la puntuación incluida en el informe. Utilice esta guía en español para ayudar a los padres a comprender qué significan las puntuaciones y cómo se utilizan.

Released April 2023