English Language Proficiency Screeners

In 2021, OSPI joined the WIDA Consortium and began using WIDA Screener assessments. The WIDA Screener is the assessment used to determine initial eligibility for English language development (ELD) services for students in grades 1-12. It is a semi-adaptive online assessment and measures English language knowledge and skills in the four language domains of reading, listening, writing, and speaking for newly-enrolled students in a Washington school.

The WIDA Kindergarten Screener is a paper assessment that is administrated one-to-one and available only to students in kindergarten who are potentially eligible for ELD services at school.

All students who take a WIDA Screener test must test on grade level in Washington. The tests are available to administer for the entire school year. Students must be tested within ten days of attendance. 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for English language development (ELD) services is determined by a student's domain scores and overall score on the WIDA Screener assessment each student takes. Students must meet the minimum score in all four domains and the overall composite score to be determined ineligible for services. If a student qualifies for a domain exemption and meets all other criteria for being ineligible for services, please contact OSPI for guidance.

Grade Level Minimum Domain Score Minimum Composite Score
Kindergarten (through December 31) 5 (listening and speaking) 5 (oral language)
Kindergarten (beginning January 1) and Grade 1 4 (all domains) 4.5 (overall)
Grades 2 through 12 4 (all domains) 5 (overall)

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Screening & Early Screening for Kindergarten Students

Current TK Students: Between May 1 and the end of the school year, students in TK programs must complete the WIDA Screener. Students in TK programs must complete the listening and speaking domains of the WIDA Kindergarten Screener only. This is how these students will meet the federal annual testing requirement. These results will determine official eligibility for ELD services.

Kindergarten Students in Fall (not TK): Students who are not TK students but will be entering kindergarten in the fall can complete the WIDA Kindergarten Screener beginning May 1. These students are not required to complete the screener before the end of the school year, but it is an option for them. These students will complete only the Listening and Speaking domains of the screener.

Current Kindergarten Students: Transfer students who are kindergarteners this spring and need to screen must complete all four domains of the WIDA Screener. Any kindergarten student who needs to be screened after January 1 of their kindergarten year, must complete all four domains of the WIDA Screener.

Screener Training

  • Training for test administrators is available on the WIDA Secure Portal. District assessment coordinators can provide district employees with WIDA Secure Portal access and access to the Online and Kindergarten Screener trainings. All test administrators must be trained prior to administering a WIDA Screener Test.
  • Kindergarten Screener: The Kindergarten Screener is administered 1-to-1. Test administrators score all components of this test locally.
  • Online Screener: The Online Screener is for students in grades 1-12. Test administrators must complete grade level or grade band training prior to administering the test. The writing and speaking sections of the test are scored locally. The writing test can be scored asynchronously.
  • District Assessment Coordinators can monitor training completion through the WIDA Secure Portal.

Resources for ELP Screeners

WIDA Screener Administration

WIDA Screener Reporting Guidance

Additional testing resources can be found on the WIDA Secure Portal, including the:

  • Test Administrator Manual (TAM)
  • Screener Training Modules
  • Professional Learning Modules