English Language Proficiency Placement Assessments

Washington utilizes the WIDA Screeners as 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, there are four types of WIDA screeners available for use depending on student need and grade level: 

• WIDA Screener: The WIDA Screener is given to students in grades 1-12. It is an online assessment with paper test booklets required for grades 1-3. These booklets can be printed on the WIDA Secure Portal. 
• WIDA Screener for Kindergarten: The WIDA Screener for Kindergarten is a paper-based assessment administered one-on-one to kindergarten students using kits that are ordered online and approved by OSPI. 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 Kindergarten Screener are administered to determine ELD eligibility. 
  • After January 1 of a student’s kindergarten year, all four domains of the WIDA Kindergarten Screener are administered to determine ELD eligibility.  

For Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students, administer listening and speaking domains of the WIDA Kindergarten Screener between May 1 and the end of the school before the start of their kindergarten year to establish eligibility for ELD services.  

• WIDA Screener Paper: The WIDA Screener Paper is available for students in grades 1-12 needing paper testing as an accommodation. This assessment must be requested from OSPI. 
• WIDA Alternate Screener: The WIDA Alternate Screener was released in the 2025-26 school year and is available for students in grades K-12 with the most significant cognitive disabilities who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and have been identified for alternate assessment. Associated materials can be printed on the WIDA Secure Portal.

State law requires that schools screen potential Multilingual Learners (MLs) within ten school days of their first day of school attendance. All screener assessments must be administered on grade level in Washington.

Training Requirements for Users

District users must have accounts with the WIDA Secure Portal and WIDA’s test delivery system, Data Recognition Corps (DRC)’s WIDA Assessment Management System (WIDA AMS) to access training and administer assessments. District Assessment Coordinators (DACs) provide approved district users with access and track completion of training on the WIDA Secure Portal. 

All district users interacting with the WIDA Screener assessment must complete training in the WIDA Secure Portal. District users who are scoring any part of the WIDA Screener must also complete scorer training in the WIDA Secure Portal. 

Washington Criteria for ELD Eligibility

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