English Language Proficiency Assessments

English Learner Contacts Guide:

OSDE ELPA “Who Do I Call?”: This is a quick guide to determine the best contact for your question.

WIDA District Test Coordinator Designation for 2019-2020 School Year: Please fill out this form if you are the WIDA DTC. 

OSDE English Learner Documents:

• English Learners/WIDA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): This document contains comprehensive information on all aspects of identifying, serving, and testing English learners in Oklahoma public schools. This is a living document and is subject to change; please consult the changelog below for a list of all corrections, additions, and changes. 

• English Learners/WIDA FAQ Change Log: Please consult this document for a list of all corrections, additions, and changes made to the English Learners/WIDA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the school year 2018-2019.

• Bilingual Count Verification and EL Identification Process 

• English Learners Exit Criteria For Other U.S. States and Territories: This chart provides a list of the English learner exit criteria for ELs attending public schools in other U.S. states and territories. 

2019-2020 OSDE Calendar 

• Oklahoma English Learner Schedule: This document provides a schedule for WIDA, OSDE, and Federal Programs. New

2019-2020 WIDA Q&A Webinars

• WIDA Webinar Schedule: These webinars are scheduled in Central Time and will be posted in the WIDA website’s Secure Portal within a week after completion.

English Learner OSTP Accommodations Documents

• 2019-20 EL State Testing Accommodations Manual New
• Approved Word-to-Word Dictionary List

OSDE ACCESS Testing Resources

• No Measurable Academic Response (NMAR): This form must be used for students that meet all five the NMAR criteria. New

• ACCESS Testing Irregularity Report: This Google form must be used to report testing irregularities during the ACCESS window. In the event of an irregularity, district staff must both submit the ACCESS Testing Irregularity Report and email Yuseli Freire (yuseli.freire@sde.ok.gov) the report has been submitted.

• Oklahoma School to School Transfer Form: This Google form must be used to request transfers for students who have moved between sites in the same district during ACCESS testing. These requests should be made only for students who have completed at least one domain of ACCESS testing, but have not yet completed all ACCESS domains. Please note that students transferring between districts still need to have the Student Transfer Form available under the Student Management menu in WIDA AMS completed and submitted in order to request their incomplete ACCESS test be transferred. In the event an intradistrict transfer is needed, district staff must both submit the Oklahoma School to School Transfer form and email Yuseli Freire (yuseli.freire@sde.ok.gov) that the request has been submitted. 

• Form U-A: Unique Accommodation Request Form for ACCESS

OSDE LIEP and ELAP Guidance Webinar

• Creating District and Student Level Language Instruction Plans for English Learners Webinar: Slide Deck This presentation provides step-by-step reviews of every section and question on both the district-level Language Instructional Education Program (LIEP) and student-level English Language Academic Plan (ELAP)

• Completing the English Language Academic Plan (ELAP) for School Year 2019-2020

Diverse Learners:

• Diverse Learners Briefs Summer 2019: These are briefs with resources and information about diverse learners in Oklahoma. 

OSDE English Learner Presentations:

• Home Language Survey and Bilingual/EL Identification

• Bilingual Audit Process

• Gearing Up for ACCESS: Preparation and Resources for Spring 2019 ACCESS Testing: Webinar; Slide Deck This presentation provides an overview of where to find important resources for ACCESS testing English learners.

• ACCESS Testing: Information and Reminders: This video covers important reminders during the testing window, including updates to the process for transferring students during testing, tips on avoiding common test irregularities, and other helpful information. 

• English Learner updates 2019-2020: This presentation provides information about English learner entry and exit criteria and policies and procedures under ESSA and district accountability measures, including the ELP band exit process, rubrics, and exit requests.
• Changes to Serving ELs Under ESSA + WIDA Updates: This presentation covers the many updates to identifying, serving, and proficiency testing English learners under ESSA. WIDA District Testing Coordinators are strongly encouraged to review this presentation.
• Setting English Learners Up for Academic Success: EL Strategies for the Regular Classroom: This presentation provides tips, strategies, and free resource links designed to aid both EL teachers and classroom teachers in using best practices with their English learner students.

ELP Band Committee Exit Request Resources:

These resources can assist districts in making ELP Band Exit Requests in the Accountability Reporting application in Single Sign-On for English learners that are eligible to be potentially reclassified as English proficient and exit EL services.

• Using the ACCESS ELP Band Process for English Learner Webinar: This presentation covers the steps for the ELP Band Process.

• Single Sign-On Instructions: Making ELP Band Committee Exit Request: This document provides step-by-step instructions and screenshots to guide districts in making ELP Band Committee Exit requests in the Accountability Reporting application in Single Sign-On.

• Using the ACCESS ELP Band Process for English Learners Webinar: This webinar covers all aspects of the ELP Band Committee Exit request process in the Accountability Reporting application in Single Sign-On.

OSDE English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Documents:

• Guidance for English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Committees: This document provides guidance for districts who have English learners in grades 3-12 who have scored within the ELP band. 

• ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Rubric: This OSDE-provided rubric must be used when ELP band committees are making reclassification and exit decisions for ELs in grades 3-12. 

• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs English Language Proficiency (ELP) Band Rubric: This OSDE-provided rubric must be used when ELP band committees are making reclassification and exit decisions for dually identified ELs with significant cognitive challenges in grades 3-12. 

• Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM): The SOLOM is a tool designed to allow educators to gather information about EL students’ oral language use in the classroom.  The SOLOM should be administered in both English and, whenever practicable, in the student’s native language(s). 

• Approved Substitutions for OSTP ELA Score Requirement for Third Graders

• Approved Substitutions for OSTP ELA Score Requirement for Secondary Students in Non-OSTP Tested Grades

• Approved List for Norm-Reference Tests (NRT) ELP Band Decisions

Links to Important WIDA Resources:

• WIDA Scale Score to Proficiency Levels

• Instructions for Obtaining WIDA and WIDA AMS Accounts

• Oklahoma WIDA Member Page: This page provides information on testing dates, test material orders, and deadlines. 

• Oklahoma English Language Learner Identification and Placement Guidance Document: This document provides guidance on the identification and placement process for newly arrived English language learners. 

• Oklahoma ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist 2019-2020: This document provides a checklist of all tasks that need to be completed before, during, and after testing within a school or district. 

• Returning Materials Instructions

• WIDA Accessibility and accommodations

• Alternate ACCESS Scores and Reports

• ACCESS for ELLs Scores and Reports

• Preparing to Administer ACCESS for ELLs

• Preparing to Administer Alternate ACCESS for ELLs

• Preparing Students for ACCESS for ELLs

Links to WIDA Assessments Page:

• Oklahoma Pre-K Screening Tool (PKST)

• Kindergarten W-APT (K W-APT): This page provides overview information for the screener for potential ELs in kindergarten and first semester-first grade.

• WIDA Screener Online: This page provides overview information for WIDA Screener Online for potential ELs in second-semester first grade through twelfth grade. 

• WIDA Screener Paper: WIDA Screener Paper is the screener for potential ELs in second-semester first grade-twelfth grade,

• Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs: This page provides overview information for Kindergarten ACCESS for ELLs.

• ACCESS for ELLs Online: This page provides overview information for ACCESS for ELLs Online.

• Alternate ACCESS for ELLs: For ELs in first grade through twelfth grade who are dually identified, served by IEPs, have significant cognitive disabilities, and take the alternate state content assessments. 

SDE ELPA Contact:

Dan Ruhl, Executive Director of English Language Proficiency 

Yuseli Freire, English Language Proficiency Assessments and Monitoring Specialist