English Language Proficiency Placement Assessments

Washington utilizes the WIDA Screeners are the English language proficiency (ELP) placement assessments to establish eligibility for English Language Development (ELD) services for students. A semi-adaptive assessment that measures the four domains of language, the WIDA Screener must be administered on grade level in Washington, and state law requires that students are screened within ten school days of their first day of school attendance. 

There are five types of WIDA Screeners, and the assessment administered is dependent on student grade and need: 

• WIDA Screener Online: The WIDA Screener online is given to students in grades 1-12. It is an online assessment with paper test booklets required for grades 1-3. 
• WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: The WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is a paper-based assessment administered one-on-one to kindergarten students. Domains administered are dependent on when the student enrolls:
  • Before December 31 of the student’s kindergarten year, only the Listening and Speaking domains of the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten are administered to determine ELD eligibility.
  • After January 1 of a student’s kindergarten year, all four domains of the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten are administered to determine ELD eligibility. 
• WIDA Screener Paper: The WIDA Screener Paper is available for students in grades 1-12 needing paper testing as an accommodation. 
• WIDA Screener Large Print: The WIDA Screener is available in Large Print in grades K-12 for students needing large print assessments as an accommodation. 
• WIDA Alternate Screener: The WIDA Alternate Screener is available for students in grades K-12 with the most significant cognitive disabilities who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and have been identified for alternate assessment.  

For Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students, the WIDA Screener for Kindergarten must be administered between May 1 and the end of the school year before the start of their kindergarten year to establish eligibility for ELD services. Only the Listening and Speaking domains are administered.  

Washington Criteria Eligibility

Eligibility for ELD services is determined by the student’s scores on the WIDA Screener assessment. To be deemed ineligible for ELD services, a student must meet the minimum score for all four domains, if applicable, and the minimum overall composite score.