BVSD – Boulder Valley School District

The English Language Development Department is very excited about implementing the World-class Instructional Design and Assessment: (WIDA) MODEL ASSESSMENT this fall. The assessment is a benchmark or a fall check in assessment to assess Language Development for the BVSD students who are learning English. This is a formative or check in assessment for English language development.

WIDA advances academic language development and academic achievement for linguistically diverse students, students who speak another language other than English. This is done through high quality standards, assessments, research, and professional development for educators. WIDA is a non-profit organization whose focus is the advancement of students who are learning English. WIDA provides instruction strategies, assessment and monitoring tools for teachers, principals and district leaders.

The WIDA MODEL (Measure of Developing English Language) is a series of English language proficiency assessments for Kindergarten through Grade 12th grade. The WIDA MODEL can be used by educators as an identification/placement assessment for newly enrolled English Language Learners (ELL) and to test students in the fall for true placement in English Language Development Class (ELD) or to redesignate students, who show proficiency in English to exit the program.

The assessment is given during the student’s English Development class time. Teachers are then able to print out the report of what the student is truly able to produce in English. The report can be shared with parents at parent/teacher conferences and with fellow teachers in order to differentiate or adjust the instruction for students learning English. Teachers have the choice of assessing again in the Spring if they see the need.

Now that BVSD will have way to monitor the progress and success of ELL students with true data that shows what the student can really do, the English Language Development Profile (ELDP) will not be needed. The ELDP was a “Language Development report card,” which can be highly based on observation and opinion, and not true to what the student can produce in the language of English. The WIDA MODEL Assessment will be a fantastic addition for the ELL Student and Teacher, to be able to work together for best instructional practices and placement of our students learning English.

By Cynthia Trinidad-Sheahan, Director of English Language Development
Chair, Literacy & Early Learning Priority Action Team

Tags: assessment, diversity, family, student success