EL Update

NEW Alternate Access Screener - can be used starting April 1st for students with significant cognitive disabilities enrolling in the 26/27 school year - Click to access the Guidance Document
1st Year Exemption from ELA sections on state assessments - attended US schools (excluding Puerto Rico) for less than 12 months, marked EL in MSDS, has valid WIDA Screener score or valid WIDA score within OEAA
May 11th - EL Program Evaluation Work Session Spring 2026 - need time to work with your team on Comprehensive High School Experience? This session will be an overview of the process and facilitated work time with Casey and Laura Otten, 9am - 12pm, anyone is welcome to register, $0. Click for the link to see all of MDE's statewide EL Program work session dates / locales
EL Connect 26/27 - tentative dates are Sept. 29th, Jan 26th, April 27th, AM and PM sessions available, registration coming soon

Expanded work requirements for adults from 18 - 65 years
Requires reporting from parents / guardians of children aged 14 and older
Removes exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth
Changes to who is eligible for SNAP (only includes US citizens, lawful permanent residents, Cuban or Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens, removes refugee, asylee, asylum seeker, and survivors of trafficking)

WIDA Access window ends April 3rd
All secure materials must be shipped back to DRC by April 7th
WIDA Labeling and Bubbling Information
Have paper booklets / materials with secure barcodes that cannot be returned? Use the Material Inventory and Accountability Form in AMS to mark them
25/26 List of Important Dates available now
Online WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Checklist
Paper/Pencil WIDA ACCESS for ELLS Checklist

GRCC Public Works Academy - share with youth or adults aged 18 or over, accepting applications for April start
April 28th - PA 146 Leadership Series: English Learners - 90 minute virtual session on EL requirements for the dyslexia law, Oakland Schools, $0, 1pm - 2:30pm, registration link
May 6th - MABE Pre-Conferences - register here
May 15th - Building Better Writers with author Natalia Heckman, Muskegon ISD CTC Campus, $130/person (includes lunch and book), 8am - 3pm, registration link
May 15th - Trauma Informed Response for Immigration Incidents in Students' Lives - webinar facilitated by Oakland Schools, 12pm - 3pm, registration link
June 23rd - Talk Read Talk Write - Kent ISD Service Area Educators along with a few additional districts / schools can register now, registration will open to all on April 15th, $0 registration and participants are eligible to receive a $125 stipend for attending
June 24th - ¡Toma la palabra! - Kent ISD Service Area Educators in districts / schools with immersion, dual language, or bilingual programs can register now, registration will open to all on April 15th, $0 registration and participants are eligible to receive a $125 stipend for attending
July 22nd & 23rd - ML Summit in Livonia, register here
NEW – English Learner Requirements (with citations)

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