Question of the Week
Q: What tools does WIDA offer to support educators and administrators in implementing the WIDA ELD Standards Framework?
A: WIDA recently launched two new implementation guides to support educators and administrators as they implement the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. The WIDA ELD Standards Framework Implementation Guide is designed specifically for classroom teachers and instructional leaders, as well as other professionals who work with multilingual learners. It includes guidance about planning for language development in units and lessons, sample resources, and ideas for what implementation of the framework could look like in practice. This guide is accompanied by an Administrator Supplement that focuses on programmatic aspects of systemic ELD standards implementation for school and district administrators.
New Focus Bulletin: Rating Multilingual Learners’ Written Language Consistently
This new Focus Bulletin explores the process of evaluating student writing and examines how educators can consistently evaluate the written language of multilingual learners. It provides strategies for educators to support evaluations that generate focused and helpful feedback for students.
WIDA Website Refresh
The WIDA public website (wida.wisc.edu) will be down for maintenance on the morning of Wednesday, July 5 from 7-10 a.m. CT. After this scheduled time, district and school staff will notice a few exciting changes throughout the WIDA website, including:
- A refreshed homepage, allowing district and school staff to navigate more easily to WIDA Research and News on the top navigation menu
- WIDA’s revised logo, which incorporates the home at the University of Wisconsin – Madison
- The artwork of Rodrigo Carapia, who along with WIDA staff created an artistic representation of WIDA in the form of a mural (the actual mural lives in the WIDA offices in Madison)
- Combined English and Spanish resource libraries
- Translanguaged pages, with text in both English and Spanish, will begin to replace separate English and Spanish WIDA Español pages
- A new page offering tools and resources for PreK-3 professionals
Contact the WIDA Client Services Center with any questions.
Revised ACCESS for ELLs
Want to stay in the know about WIDA’s efforts to redesign Kindergarten ACCESS? Check out the Revised ACCESS for ELLs is Coming in 2025-2026 webpage.
Reminder: 2023-2024 WIDA Screener Online Administration
The 2023-2024 administration of WIDA Screener Online will open in WIDA AMS on Friday, June 30. Permissions for the new WIDA Screener administration will be assigned to existing users prior to this date. All Speaking and Writing responses from the 2022-2023 administration year must be scored by Thursday, June 29, before the 2022-23 administration changes to read only.
Additionally, please note:
- New applications for Import, Student, and Test Management will be available on June 30. Read Get ready for 2023-2024 updates to WIDA AMS and DRC INSIGHT for more information.
- Reports for the 2023-2024 testing year will be available in the new Reporting Services application, available June 30. Reports for 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 can be found in WIDA AMS under My Applications > Report Delivery.
- Beginning with the 2023-2024 testing year, DRC will house only the current year plus the two previous years’ score reports in WIDA AMS. If the district needs score reports for WIDA Screener Online or ACCESS for ELLs for the 2020-2021 testing year or earlier, download your reports before June 30.
For questions related to WIDA AMS, please contact DRC Customer Service or phone (855) 787-9615Click to edit this placeholder text.
Reminder: 2023 New DAC Informational Seminar
The New District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Seminar helps set the stage for DACs. As a DAC you play a critical role in impacting student learning in the district. Join Kentucky Association for Assessment Coordinators (KAAC) for a day where the stage is set for DACs of all levels of experience. This newly designed workshop features an in-depth time to focus on the role of assessment and accountability in schools and districts, the organization every DAC needs to know and time to develop your understanding of accountability in Kentucky. The workshop will be facilitated by KAAC board members focused on making sure each new DAC has a smooth transition into this essential job. The workshop features networking time to meet other DACs and KDE staff. DACs of any experience level are invited to attend the New DAC Seminar on August 2 at 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET at the KDE Building- 300 Sower Blvd. in Frankfort
Reminder: School Reconfiguration Changes for 2023-2024 School Year
The Office of Assessment and Accountability (OAA) asks that District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) submit information on A1 schools with service area changes for the 2023-2024 school year by June 30. Changes to school service area (reconfiguration) requests need to be made if any of the following situations apply:
- the grade range in an A1 school changes
- a new A1 school is opened
- an A1 school is closed
- an A1 school boundary changes
- a shift in student population of more than 40% occurs
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The School Reconfiguration Spreadsheet, School Reconfiguration Spreadsheet instructions and School Reconfiguration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can be found on the Forms page located on the Assessment and Accountability section of the KDE website.
In addition, changes must be submitted through the District and School Collection Repository (DASCR) application. Please see the DASCR User Guide, if unfamiliar with this web application. The district Web Apps Admin Point of Contact (WAAPOC) handles access. WAAPOCs may contact the KETS Service Desk with questions/issues with DASCR at (866) 538-7435. with questions/issues with DASCR at (866) 538-7435.
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