Placement & Assessment

In adherence with federal and state guidelines, eligibility for the English Learner (EL) program services is a multi-step process that ensures that any student who may need support in developing English proficiency is identified and parents are offered the option for the student to receive appropriate language services. 

Students with a home language other than, or in addition to English, as indicated on their home language survey participate in an English Language Proficiency screening using the WIDA MODEL or WIDA Screener as part of the new student registration process. The WIDA MODEL and  WIDA Screener  are language screening assessments approved by the Virginia Department of Education to assess the skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing.  In cases in which students have current WIDA results from their previous school,  those results can typically be used to determine eligibility. 

English Language services are offered to all students who qualify based on the WIDA results. The goal of English language services is to increase English proficiency while at the same time increasing student academic achievement in the core academic subjects. While EL services are recommended for all students scoring below the benchmark, parents have a right to decline EL services.