An Enrollment Survey Section II can trigger the need for a screener if a language other than English is listed for any of the first three questions, the student will be screened. After the screener is administered, the scores will determine if this student is identified as an EL or not and will give guidance for appropriate services if applicable.

Kindergarten Screener:

• Current screener used to identify potential ELs in kindergarten. Use for kindergarten through the 1st semester of 1st grade.

• Paper-based assessment & scored locally.

• Domains Tested:

  • 1st Semester Kindergarten - Listening & Speaking

  • 2nd Semester Kindergarten through 1st Semester First Grade - Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking

WIDA Screener:

• Current screener used to identify potential ELs in grades 1 (2nd Semester) - 12th.

• Online assessment through DRC Insight platform. Paper administration is available, but at cost to the LEA.

• Domains Tested:

  • Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking

WIDA MODEL & WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten:

• Optional screener used to identify potential ELs in grades K-12 and/or used as formative assessments for English proficiency.

• Entirely funded by the LEA if chosen.

• Online or paper assessment, Kindergarten assessment is always paper-based.

• Recommended to use no more than 2x a year on a student if used as a formative assessment.

• Domains Tested:

  • 1st Semester Kindergarten - Listening & Speaking

  • 2nd Semester Kindergarten through 12th Grade - Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing

The state-approved ML identification/placement assessments in SC are:

• Kindergarten: WIDA Screener for Kindergarten (Kindergarten through first-semester 1st grade)

• Kindergarten: Kindergarten MODEL (Kindergarten through first-semester 1st grade) (LEAs pay for the cost of the Kindergarten MODEL, if used.)

• Grades 1-12: WIDA Screener Online (second-semester 1st grade through grade twelve)

• Grades 1-12: WIDA Screener Paper (second-semester 1st grade through grade twelve) (LEAs pay for the cost of the WIDA Screener Paper, if used.)

• Grades 1-12: WIDA MODEL Online or WIDA MODEL Paper (second-semester 1st grade through grade twelve)

  (LEAs pay for the cost of the WIDA MODEL Online or Paper, if used.)

SC English Learner Identification and Placement Guidance Document 2023-2024

• ACCESS for ELLs Interpretive Guide for Score Reports Spring 2023

• Accessibility & Accommodations Manual 2022-2023

• District & School Test Coordinator Manual 2022-2023

• Test Administrator Manual 2022-2023

• Test Administrator Essentials 2022-2023

• WIDA AMS User Guide 2022-2023

• DRC Insight Technology User Guide 2022-2023

• WIDA Site Technology Readiness Checklist for Deploying Online Assessments

• South Carolina ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist 2022-2023

Testing Dates

11/16/22 Early shipment of TAMs.

12/30/22-3/10/23 WIDA AMS test setup available for test sessions.

1/17/23 Districts receive test materials.

1/18/23-3/7/23 Additional test materials ordering window in AMS.

1/23/23-3/10/23 Test Window.

3/24/23 Deadline for shipping completed test materials to DRC.

4/21/23-4/27/23 Pre-reporting data validation – LEAs in AMS.

5/15/23 Districts receive reports – Online.

5/23/23-5/30/23 Post-reporting data validation – LEAs in AMS.

5/26/23 Districts receive reports - Printed.

6/13/23 Updated data from post-reporting data validation posted in AMS.