Purpose of the Alternative Language Program
The purpose of the Alternative Language Program is to provide learners from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds with an equitable and appropriate education, so they have an opportunity to:
- Develop academic, vocational, and social skills, and
- Become successful and productive citizens in a global society.
Identification & Placement
- Each registration card includes the home language survey which consists of 4 questions about the student’s linguistic background.
- If any language other than English is listed on the home language survey, then the school secretary or registrar will complete the first portion of the Bilingual Language Classification Form (BLCF) with the parents.
- The BLCF is given to the ALP Lead teacher.
- The ALP Lead teacher ensures that WIDA Screener is administered.
- Scores are noted on the BLCF and a copy of the WIDA Screener score report is printed. The BLCF is completed and copy is sent to Educational Equity. The original is given to the secretary or registrar to be scanned into Optiview.
- The WIDA Screener score report is attached to a copy of the Parent Notification form and is given to the parents. Copies of the Parent Notification form and the WIDA Score report are given to the secretary or registrar to be scanned into Optiview.
- If the student has scored levels 1-4 on the WIDA Screener, the student qualifies for ESL services and will be placed in the appropriate classes. If the student has scored level 5 or 6, the student is not placed in any ESL classes.
WIDA Assessments, Can Do Descriptors, & Standards
The State of Utah has adopted the WIDA English Language Development Standards and Assessments for English Learners. WIDA is a multistate, research-based, consortium that partners with the Center for Applied Linguistics and the Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
General Information about WIDA:
- About WIDA
- The WIDA Can Do Philosophy
- The WIDA Guiding Principles of Language Acquisition
- Early Language Development
WIDA Can Do Descriptors:
- Can Do Homepage
- Can Do Booklet Kinder
- Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Kindergarten (DOCX)
- Can Do Booklet Grade 1 (PDF)
- Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grade 1 (DOCX)
- Can Do Booklet Grades 2 & 3 (PDF)
- Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 2 & 3 (DOCX)
- Can Do Booklet Grades 4 & 5 (PDF)
- Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 4 & 5 (DOCX)
- Can Do Booklet Grades 6-8 (PDF)
- Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 6-8 (DOCX)
WIDA English Language Development Standards:
- Social and Instructional Language
- The Language of Language Arts
- The Language of Mathematics
- The Language of Science
- The Language of Social Studies
Links to the Standards:
WIDA Assessments
- WIDA Screener (Initial Placement)
- WIDA ACCESS (Annual Assessment)
- Alternate ACCESS (Annual assessment for students who also qualify for the DLM)
Characteristics of Elementary ELD Instruction
ELD instruction is a minimum of 45-minutes of daily Tier 1 instruction that explicitly targets each language domain: listening, speaking, reading and writing. ELD instruction should have the following characteristics.
- Students having composite scores of 1-4 participate in ELD Instruction
- Instruction is designed to meet the specific needs of English Learners in the domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, & Writing.
- ELD instruction is taught by ESL-endorsed teachers using evidence-based instructional strategies.
- ELD is informed by ongoing assessment.
ALP Lead Teachers
ALP Lead Teachers coordinate the ALP/ESL program in their schools. ALP Leads have the following responsibilities:
- Attend ALP Lead meetings.
- Complete ALP forms such as the BLCF and the Parent Notification Form.
- Coordinate with staff to complete annual WIDA ACCESS testing.
- Coordinate with staff to ensure that new English learners are identified and placement tested.
- Distribute information about English Learners and the ALP/ESL program to teachers.
- Monitor students who have opted out of ELD Services or have exited from ELD Services.