4.+Standards

WIDA WIDA is an acronym for World Class Instructional Design and Assessment. The WIDA consortium just recently added two more states bringing their membership to 27. WIDA standards were first published in 2004 and a revision was completed in 2007. To help aide in the understanding of how to use these standards there is also a resource guide that is published and accessible on the internet ([]). WIDA is not only recognized in the United States but worldwide for their “innovative approach to measuring academic language development in English” ([]). Through the use of these standards various assessments have been developed. Illinois, as well as other members of the consortium, uses one of these (ACCESS) annually to assist in compliance with federal accountability requirements. The standards for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 are Social and Instructional Language, the language of Language Arts, the language of Mathematics, the language of Science and the language of Social Studies. The WIDA English Language proficiency standards can be found by following this link: []

Common Core Standards The Illinois common core standards were developed with 47 other states with the purpose of providing “clear, consistent academic benchmarks with fewer, clearer, higher academic standards” (Common Core PDF overview). These standards were created for students in grades Kindergarten through 12. The standards list the knowledge and level of proficiency that students should reach during their K-12 education. The standards are not intended to tell teachers how to teach the content but instead give a clear indication of what skills and knowledge students should achieve at each level. The common core standards were introduced by providing standards for Math and Language Arts first. We are currently in a transition period from the standards released in 1997 to the common core standards released in 2010. It is important for teachers to be aware of and use these standards because as we move forward our students will be assessed based on these standards. Additionally they are designed to help the students succeed as they move from grade to grade and build upon previously learned skills and knowledge. The Illinois Common Core standards can be found by clicking on this link: [] and then going over to the sidebar on the left hand side of the page.

IL ELPS The Illinois English Language Proficiency Standards (IL ELPS) were created by aligning the WIDA standards with the Illinois learning standards. The purpose for having these standards is to have a common measurement across the state for how English Language Learners systematically acquire language. Within these standards the students are measured across four domains (speaking, reading, writing, and listening). These standards are also a part of a requirement of the “No Child Left Behind” Act. Having this common set of measurements helps the state in creating “Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives” (EL Proficiency Standards Presentation). The organization of these standards includes large-scale and classroom application and assessment, five English Language proficiency standards (social and instructional, English Language arts, math, science, and social studies), four grade level clusters (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) as well as five levels of language proficiency. Additionally the five levels of language proficiency are mirrors of those presented by the WIDA consortium (entering, beginning, developing, expanding, and bridging). More information as well as the actual IL ELPS can be found by following this link: []

Resources [] [] [] []