World-Class
Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA).
WIDA is a consortium
of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high
standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language
learners.
To this end, the WIDA Consortium has developed English language
proficiency standards and an English language proficiency test aligned
with those standards (ACCESS for ELLs®). In addition, WIDA has
developed Spanish language arts standards and is planning a system of
parallel academic assessments for beginning English language learners
(ONPAR™). Research and professional development activities importantly
complement the WIDA standards and assessment products.
Originally established through a federal grant, the WIDA Consortium
consists of twenty-seven partner states.
In the 2011-12 school year, WIDA expects to serve about 775,000 English
language learners in kindergarten through grade 12.