How are students identified for ESL services?
Identification must take place during the registration process. When a student registers in our division a home language survey is included in the paperwork. This survey aims to identify any and all languages present in a home. If a language other than English is indicated on the survey, students are given the WIDA W-APT screening test. If students transfer from another school division in which they have already taken a WIDA language proficiency assessment, those scores are used in place of a screening. Scores on these assessments are used to determine if a student is eligible for ESL services and accommodations. Here is a flowchart of the process: