ELP Assessment Parent Notification - WIDA and WIDA Screener
Understand your child's English language proficiency assessments
WIDA Screener is used in grades K-12 to identify students who are eligible for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services as required by federal law. The notification letters outline federal guidelines for when a student is expected to take part in the WIDA Screener assessment. Contents of the Fairfax County Public Schools parent notification letters are provided below. Click the bar for your student's grade level to read the notification letter.
Annual ELP Assessments - Notification Letters
Full text and printable translations are found below for the annual ELP assessments required by federal law. Assessments used to meet the annual testing requirements are WIDA ACCESS for ELLs 2.0, WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) ELP Checklists.
Full Text of Letter: WIDA ACCESS, Alternate ACCESS, and VDOE Checklists
Parent Notification Letter
Annual English Language Proficiency Test
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Federal legislation requires that all students identified as English learners (ELs) are assessed annually to monitor their progress and proficiency in English. In Virginia, all divisions use the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs for this purpose.
The WIDA ACCESS for ELLs is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development standards and assesses English in the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The assessment will:
- Determine students’ English language proficiency level and eligibility for EL services and testing accommodations.
- Help students and families understand students’ current level of English language proficiency along a developmental continuum.
- Provide teachers with information they can use to plan for and support student learning.
- Determine whether ELs have met English language proficiency criteria and will be designated former ELs.
All ELs, including those who have opted out of EL services, participate annually in the ELP assessment until they reach English language proficiency criteria (ELP level 6). Alternate assessment formats are available for certain students with disabilities.
If you have questions about the annual ELP assessment, please contact the school’s test coordinator for more information
Printable Translations: WIDA ACCESS, Alternate ACCESS, and VDOE Checklists
ELP Screening Assessments - Notification Letters
Full text and printable translations are found below for the WIDA Screener assessment given to potential ELs upon enrollment and to ELs without a current annual ELP assessment who need an updated ELP level.
Full Text of Letter: WIDA Screener for Grades K-12
NOTIFICATION OF TESTING
WIDA Screener
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student is participating in the WIDA Screener.
The WIDA Screener is given to all students with a home language other than, or in addition to, English, when entering Fairfax County Public Schools. It is also given to English learners (ELs) who did not participate in or complete all domains of the federally required annual English language proficiency (ELP) assessment.
The results of the WIDA Screener will identify if your student is English proficient or requires EL services. The assessment will provide information on your student’s current English language proficiency to determine the appropriate level of EL services. It will also identify eligibility for EL testing accommodations on standardized tests, including the state Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment.
The WIDA Screener will be administered at your child’s school during the school day. You will be notified of the results after testing is complete.
Sincerely,
Printable Translations: WIDA Screener, Grades K-12
Select a preferred language for a printable PDF of this notification letter.