Rules
The Illinois Administrative Code, Part 228
, Section 228.15 indicates districts shall administer an individual language proficiency assessment to each student identified via the Home Language Survey. This assessment shall take place within 30 days of a student's enrollment in a district to determine the student's eligibility for bilingual education services.
Test Administration
Who can administer the ACCESS for ELLs, WIDA Screener, and WIDA Screener for Kindergarten?
Grade Specific
See the table below for grade specific information about the screener
Grade
|
Screener |
Cut Score |
| Prekindergarten ages 3-5 |
Multiple vendors and procedures
(IL Admin Code 228.10)
|
Fluent English speaker as determined by the specific instrument’s scoring criteria/rubric |
| 1st semester of Kindergarten |
WIDA Screener for Kindergarten (listening and speaking domains) |
5.0 oral language proficiency |
| 2nd semester of K-1st semester of 1st grade |
WIDA Screener for Kindergarten (all domains)
|
Overall composite 5.0 |
| 2nd Semester of 1st grade - 12th grade |
WIDA Screener (Required Screener-- online or paper) |
Overall Composite 5.0
|
Determining the Appropriate Grade-Level Cluster for Screening Potential English Learners
The appropriate grade‐level cluster form to administer to students depends on the time of year when the test is administered and the current grade level of the student. WIDA recommends the option of administering a lower grade cluster form for students in the first semester of the first year in a grade‐level cluster. (See figure below.) For example, students in the first semester of sixth grade may take the 4–5 grade cluster form. The Grades 6–8 form should be administered to students in their second semester of sixth grade through the first semester of ninth grade.
This guidance also means that a student in the first semester of first grade should be given the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten.
Illinois has made this guidance based WIDA’s recommendation and on the knowledge that students just entering a new grade-level cluster have not yet been exposed to the language proficiency standards and content topics at the beginning of the school year. Students must not be administered a grade cluster test that is above the student’s current grade level. The following figure shows the appropriate grade‐level cluster test form for students, depending on the semester and grade level when the test is administered.
| Grade |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
| Semester |
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
| Grade-Cluster Form |
K
|
1
|
2-3
|
4-5
|
6-8
|
9-12
|
Source: WIDA, Online Test Administration Manual
Preschool-Age
-
Prescribed Screening Procedures
Prescribed screening procedures defined in
IL Admin Code 228.10 for children entering preschool ages 3 to kindergarten enrollment age as defined in Section 10-20.12 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-20.12] to determine students' English language proficiency and to identify students eligible to receive English learner (EL) services. Multiple vendors offer an English language screening instrument.
-
Using Scores to Determine Placement
Districts should use guidance for prescribed screening instruments that the vendor includes in the product for purposes of placing students (Fluent English Speaker score equivalent). All potential ELs identified with the prescribed screening procedures that qualify for EL services need to be rescreened with the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten upon entering kindergarten.
-
Training to Administer a Vendor’s Screening Instrument
Online training for administering a specific vendor’s screening instrument can be found on their respective websites or in literature found in the instrument’s packaging.
-
Ordering a Vendor’s Screening Instrument
Consult a vendor’s website for information about ordering a commercial screening instrument. Some vendors that offer normed English language screeners for preschool-aged children are listed below:
Kindergarten
-
Prescribed Screening Instrument
As of June 30, 2023, the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten must be used as a screener for students entering kindergarten and the first semester of first grade to determine students' English language proficiency and to identify students eligible to receive EL services. Note: All students identified through the Home Language Survey, including students previously screened when enrolled in preschool, must be screened using the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten.
-
Using Scores to Determine Placement
Any child entering the first semester of kindergarten who is administered the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten and scores below a 5.0 oral language composite (speaking/listening) proficiency level is considered an EL and is eligible for EL services. A student entering the first semester of kindergarten who achieves a 5.0 or above in the oral language composite (speaking/listening) proficiency level is considered English proficient.
-
Training for the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten
The WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is to be administered by certificated instructional personnel (including bilingual teachers and English as a second language [ESL] teachers) and certificated non-instructional personnel (coordinators, program directors, school psychologists, speech and language therapists, assistant principals, principals, assistant superintendents, and superintendents) who have completed the
training module for WIDA Screener for Kindergarten administration and passed the online quizzes.
-
Ordering WIDA Screener for Kindergarten
Educators will have the option to download a free PDF version of the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten from the
WIDA Secure Portal or purchase hard copy kits from the
WIDA Store.
GRADES 1 (2ND SEMESTER) - 12
The WIDA Screener, in online and paper format, is a placement test aligned to WIDA's standard setting. The online version will function similarly to the online version of ACCESS 2.0, using the
WIDA Assessment Management System (AMS) webpage and Data Recognition Corp. (DRC) software components. However, the online system will only score the listening and reading domains. Writing and speaking will be scored by local district staff. The online WIDA Screener is available at no cost to Illinois districts. The paper version is available for purchase in the WIDA Store. Information about trainings for the WIDA Screener can be found on the WIDA webpage.
Illinois uses WIDA Screener for Kindergarten for screening in kindergarten and the first semester of first grade.
-
Prescribed Screening Instrument
As of June 30, 2023, the screening tool for first grade, second semester through Grade 12 is the WIDA Screener. The WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is for use at kindergarten and first grade, first semester.
-
Using Scores to Determine Placement
If the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is administered, a score of 5.0 overall composite is the minimum proficiency level with no literacy criteria.
-
Training for WIDA Screener Test Administration
The WIDA Screener is to be administered by certificated instructional personnel (teachers including bilingual teachers and ESL teachers) and certificated non-instructional personnel (coordinators, program directors, school psychologists, speech and language therapists, assistant principals, principals, assistant superintendents, and superintendents) who have completed the
WIDA Screener training through the WIDA Secure Portal and passed the online quizzes.
-
How to get the WIDA Screener
The WIDA Screener is available either online or on paper. The WIDA Screener Online is used via
WIDA AMS and DRC Insight. It is built into ACCES 2.0 software and functions similarly. That software may be downloaded at no cost from the
WIDA AMS website. An account is required. A paper version of the WIDA Screener may be purchased from the
WIDA Store.
No Screener Required
Per 23 Ill. Admin. Code 228.15 , potential ELs are not required to be screened AND are immediately placed in EL services if the following are true:
- The student was screened in another district in Illinois or another WIDA state at kindergarten or later within the past 12 months and the student did not meet the Illinois criteria for English language proficiency (ELP); OR
- The student took ACCESS no sooner than the school year before the student’s enrollment in the district and the student did not meet the Illinois criteria for ELP.
Potential ELs are not required to be screened
AND are NOT placed in EL services if the following are true:
- The student was screened in another district in Illinois and met ELP on the screener;
OR
- The student took ACCESS in Illinois and met ELP;
OR
- The student was screened in another WIDA state and the screener scores place the student as meeting ELP in Illinois;
OR
- The student took ACCESS in another WIDA state and the scores place the student as meeting ELP in Illinois;
OR
- The student has met the following criteria from
23 Ill. Admin. Code 228.15(e)(1)(c) :
- The student was identified as a potential EL with the Home Language Survey;
AND
- The student was not screened or identified as an EL in the school district the student previously attended;
AND
- The student was enrolled in a general program of instruction without EL supports in the school the student had previously attended;
AND
- The student met or exceeded standards in reading and math on the most recent state assessment (in Illinois or another state). If state assessment results are not available, then a standardized, nationally normed test may be used. Note: This criterion applies only to students who have been enrolled in Grades 3 to 11, the grades in which the state assessments are administered.
