|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
|
|
|
In keeping with the recommendations of WIDA and numerous early childhood education experts, the Oklahoma State Department of Education has adopted the following changes to the identification process using the WIDA Kindergarten Screener.
Changes
Please note the following:
-
Kindergarten 2nd semester through 1st semester 1st grade: Potential EL students are administered all four domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) of the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten. A Composite/Overall score of 5.0 for WIDA Screener for Kindergarten or better is considered English Language Proficient/Not EL. A Composite/Overall score of 4.5 or below is considered Not English Language Proficient/EL.
Note: First semester of kindergarten is considered from initial enrollment through December 31 of the student’s kindergarten year and second semester is from January 1 onward.
Early Administration Recommendations
If you are administering the test to students preceding their initial enrollment in kindergarten, the earliest recommended testing window is from mid-April to June. Administration of the test earlier than mid-April may not support accurate decision-making about these young students’ English language development. For testing between mid-April to June, it is recommended that LEAs administer only the oral language domain (Speaking and Listening) section. Additionally, the following conditions should be considered to provide the best testing experience for students:
- Test in a space that is familiar to the student.
- The test administrators should be persons with whom the students are familiar.
- Allow for additional breaks, as needed.
- Allow for testing over multiple days, if needed.
- Encourage rescheduling of the test session if the students do not engage or become upset.
WIDA and OSDE Facilitated K Screener Training
A webinar addressing Kindergarten Screener training, administration, and proficiency criteria will be held on August 24 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. To join, click on or paste the following link into your preferred web browser:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/91296962712 Passcode: wida
No prior registration for this webinar is necessary.
Educators may complete K Screener training and download the free test materials through the WIDA Secure Portal. LEAs may also choose to purchase comprehensive Kindergarten Screener material kits directly from the WIDA Store.
District staff administering the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten assessment must successfully complete the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten training course and pass the two certification quizzes:
- WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: Oral Language
-
WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: Literacy
The Training materials are located in the WIDA Secure Portal.
Best Practices in Kindergarten Screener Administration
LEA staff should note that the performance of a kindergarten-aged student on the Kindergarten Screener may be heavily influenced by interpersonal factors unrelated to the focus of the assessment. A student in this age group may have extremely limited or no experience with formal assessment and may exhibit reservation and situational anxiety if placed in an unknown environment and/or with an unfamiliar adult administering the assessment. As such, LEAs are strongly encouraged to implement the following best practices prior to K Screener administration:
-
Introduce and allow the student to explore the testing environment
-
Ensure the student has experienced one or more positive interactions with the test administrator(s)
-
Provide one or more structured classroom activities that align to the assessment’s administrative format and process
Potential EL Conflicts
Due to paper-only format of the K Screener assessment, a participating student demonstrating English language proficiency will generate an EL conflict in the Accountability Reporting application when the following conditions are met:
-
The student was identified as an English Learner in their Pre-K year and assigned 2349/EL/Limited English Proficient or 1637/LEP/ELL Declined LEA EL Services in the local student information system.
- The student was administered the Kindergarten Screener in their kindergarten year or first semester of first grade and achieved a Composite/Overall score of 5.0 or above.
- The student was assigned 1634/Fluent English Speaker status in the local student information system.
In these cases, the LEA will need to upload the student’s K Screener scoring documentation through the Accountability Reporting application’s conflict resolution process in order to address the conflict.
|
|
