Multilingual Family News

Inside this issue:

• Important Dates
  
• WIDA Practice Tests
  
• WIDA Frequently Asked Questions
• January Holidays Around the World!
• Drop-In Support and Appointments with Ms. Spencer & ML Paraeducator

Past Issues: Tech Tips: Translating Languages, Nov./Dec. 2025, Oct. 2025, Sept. 2025

• Jan. 9: Assignments due for for MPR
• Jan. 19: No School for MLK Jr. Day
• Jan. 26-March 20: WIDA ACCESS Testing Window
  
• Jan. 27: (IA) Last day to turn in revised assignments for Semester 1
• Jan. 27: (CA & OD): Exhibition Night, 5:30-7:30pm (Required family event when scholars at CA & OD showcase there exhibition.)
• Jan. 27- 31: Scholar Exhibitions
• Jan 30: No School (Semester Break)
• Feb. 2: Start of Semester 2
• Feb. 13 - 16: No School (Mid Winter Break & Pres. Day)
• March 13: No School (Teacher Professional Development Day)
• April 6-10: No School (Spring Break)
• May 25: No School (Memorial Day)
• June 19: No School (Juneteenth)

Each spring, ML Scholars across the country take an English Proficiency Exam. WA State uses WIDA ACCESS to measure Speaking, Reading, Listening, & Writing.

Please watch your email for your scholar's specific test date/time AND complete the confirmation form in the email.

General Plan

• Grad Alliance: Jan. 26-29
• Pathways: Jan. 26-29
• Open Doors & Career Academy: Feb. 2-6
• Internet Academy: Feb. 9-12
• Employment Transition Program: Jan. 26-Mar. 20
• Make-Ups (all schools) Feb. 17-Mar. 20

DATES: Jan. 26 - March 20

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHERE AND WHEN IS MY CHILD'S WIDA ACCESS TEST?

• Internet Academy, Career Academy, Open Doors, & Grad. Alliance: Truman High School, 31455 28th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003
  
• Employment Transition Program: Norman Center
  

HOW LONG DOES THE TEST TAKE?

• WIDA ACCESS: 2-3 hours each day of testing: Day 1 - Speaking/Reading; Day 2 - Listening/Writing

• WIDA Alt ACCESS: It depends on the scholar: 20-80 minutes
  

IS MY CHILD REQUIRED TO TAKE THIS TEST?

• Yes. All K-12 scholars in WA State and nationwide who are receiving or have waived ML Services must take the WIDA each spring.
  

• Home Language Survey: When a scholar enrolls in public school, the family completes a Home Language Survey. If the child's first learned language and/or the most used language in the household is another language than English, the child takes the WIDA Screener test to determine if Multilingual Services are needed.

WHAT IS MEASURED ON THE WIDA TESTS?

• English proficiency in Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing
• Results determine what most scholars CAN DO at each level. See WIDA Can Do Descriptors for more information.
  

WHY DOES MY SCHOLAR NEED TO TAKE THE WIDA TEST EVERY SPRING?

• To determine their growth and development of English language skills
• To help teachers determine how best to support your multilingual scholar
• To help schools ensure your scholar is receiving effective instruction to be successful in all of their courses
• To follow federal laws that are designed to protect scholar's rights to equal access to free and appropriate education in the United States.

ARE THERE TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SCHOLARS WITH IEP'S?

• Yes, we follow your accommodations in your IEP and consult with your Case Manager for appropriate test settings and accommodations.
  

WHEN DO I GET THE RESULTS OF THE WIDA ACCESS TEST?

• Normally, by the end of the school year and/or at the beginning of the following school year. A hard copy will be mailed to you from your current school. Often, your child's Special Education teacher will conduct the testing.
  

WHO CAN I TALK TO ABOUT WIDA TESTING?

• Jennifer Spencer, Multilingual Specialist for IA, GA, OD, CA, & ETP,
• Ph# 253-945-4598
• Book appt.: https://jspencer-4.youcanbook.me/
  

WHAT IS THE EXIT CRITERIA FOR MULTILINGUAL SERVICES IN WASHINGTON STATE (WHEN CAN MY CHILD STOP TAKING THE WIDA TEST & EXIT ML SERVICES)?

See chart below:

• For ML Monitoring Scholars (scholars who have passed the WIDA ACCESS test within the past two years), please use this form: https://forms.gle/sbT1oxbUC3X6GhF9A

• For all other ML Scholars, please use the form below or here: https://forms.gle/scfX7wdD9V4TqyNc7

Phone: (253) 945-4598

email: jspencer@fwps.org

Make an Appointment: https://jspencer-4.youcanbook.me/

Caretakers: Need another language than English?

I can call you with a Language Interpreter!

ML Paraeducator

Phone: 253-945-5834

email: jhryciw@fwps.org

Caretakers: Need another language than English?

I can call you with an interpreter

Please Note: Times below are tentative and may change upon availability.

If you need to speak to your teacher or school in another language than English, please ASK for a Language Interpreter. We can call you or meet you in a Zoom with an interpreter. If we are in-person at school, we can call an interpreter on speaker phone or request an interpreter to come to the building.