English Learners Newsletter

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 04/06/2022 07:00 AM MDT

Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

English Learners Update Masthead

04/06/2022  |  April 2022 Edition

For more information on the following topics, contact Antoinette Hallam, WDE EL Consultant, at 307-777-5217 or antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov.

MAINTENANCE & CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • WIDA AMS Updates at 7 p.m. MDT on April 7 and May 5, 2022.
  • WIDA AMS Security Patch from 10 p.m. MDT Saturday to 10 a.m. MDT Sunday on April 30-May 1, 2022.
  • DRC Customer Service is available from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. MDT, Monday-Friday at 855-787-9615 or WIDA@datarecognitioncorp.com. Contact DRC with questions about testing material, Central Office Services (COS), and processing paper test materials.
  • The WIDA Client Services Center is available from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. MDT, Monday-Friday. Contact WIDA at help@wida.us or 866-276-7735. Contact WIDA with questions about WIDA Secure Portal user accounts, ACCESS for ELLs, WIDA Screener, MODEL, KWAPT, score reports, TA procedures, training, and certification, as well as Standards and Can Do Descriptors, and WIDA Early Years.
  • DRC INSIGHT System Requirements: Updated Supported System Requirements for ACCESS for ELLs Online and WIDA Screener Online have been posted to WIDA AMS. These system requirements are valid from February-June 2022. Contact DRC Customer Support at 855-787-9615 or wida@datarecognitioncorp.com with any questions.
  • Submit updated EL Coordinator contact information to the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) through this link.

WIDA SCREENER FOR KINDERGARTEN FIELD STUDY

Field Study Concluded April 1, 2022

The WDE team appreciates all of the assistance in administering and collecting data from the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Field Study. 

  • The field study concluded on April 1, 2022.
  • The WIDA Screener for Kindergarten will replace the KW-APT as of the start of the 2022-2023 School Year.

ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS ASSESSMENT

Non-Disclosure and User Agreement Update

  • WIDA has updated the electronic Non-Disclosure and User Agreement (NDUA) in the WIDA Secure Portal.
  • The User’s name appears at the bottom of the document, along with the date the NDUA was agreed to, and the date on which the user will be asked to review and agree next. 
  • When this screen is printed, the document will now print on a single page with a WIDA header and footer. Note: updates only apply when the user is printing the electronically signed copy displayed on the screen. 
  • The Download PDF Form button will still allow the user to download a blank copy of the NDUA to print and sign if necessary.

For more information, contact WIDA at 866-276-7735 or help@wida.us.

CALL FOR WIDA FELLOWS NOMINATIONS

Nomination Deadline:  April 30, 2022

  • WIDA is seeking nominations for the fourth class of WIDA Fellows that are exemplary teachers of bilingual and multilingual learners.
  • Selected Fellows serve for one year.
  • Learn more about the program and nomination process on the WIDA Fellows webpage.
  • To nominate an educator, complete the WIDA Fellows nomination form. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Leading Change through the Lens of Cultural Proficiency

From 4:30-5:30 p.m. MDT on Monday, April 11, 2022

In this webinar, the authors tell the story of a school community that contended with its approach to teaching and valuing students of diverse backgrounds. The authors will discuss roadmaps, barriers along the way, and educator commitment to implementing and sustaining the work of Cultural Proficiency.

Participants will: 

  • Experience Cultural Proficiency as personal and professional work.
  • Hear stories through vignettes and data, based on work conducted across an actual school district, that resulted in improvements in school climate, achievement, mindset, and equitable educational practices.
  • Learn about engagement, leadership, and implementation frameworks for uncovering and remedying educational inequities.
  • Register here.

WIDA Screener for Kindergarten

From 3:30-5 p.m. MDT on Monday, May 9, 2022

Participants will work collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of how to build interrater reliability using the WIDA Kindergarten Screener writing rubric, and will be able to: 

  • Explain the purpose and background of the WIDA Kindergarten Screener.
  • Explore the logistics for preparing to administer the Kindergarten Screener.
  • Investigate the Kindergarten Screener materials.
  • Identify the available accommodations for the Kindergarten Screener.
  • Practice scoring the Speaking and Writing domains.
  • Examine and practice the administration and scoring procedures for all domains.
  • Register here.

Interpreting ACCESS for ELLS Score Reports for Instruction

From 3:30-5 p.m. MDT on Monday, May 12, 2022

During this training participants will explore how the WIDA Standards and Assessment System is connected to the ACCESS for ELLs score reports, and will examine the different types and uses of various score reports.

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain the purpose of the ACCESS for ELLs Assessment.
  • Identify the differences in the types of ACCESS for ELLs Score Reports and their uses.
  • Describe considerations and methods for disseminating information contained in the score reports.
  • Register here.

SY 2021-22 EL IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • April 30: Deadline for WIDA Fellows Nominations.
  • May 4: ACCESS Reports and Data Files Available Online in WIDA AMS.
  • May 9: WIDA Screener for Kindergarten Webinar.
  • May 12: Interpreting ACCESS for Score Reports Webinar.
  • May 20-24: ACCESS Printed Reports Available in Districts.
  • May 25: EL Quarterly Webinar.
  • June 17: ACCESS Updated Data Posted in WIDA AMS.