The Franklin Public School District uses the following assessments to identify English Learners and monitor their progress toward English language proficiency.  All district assessments are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Assessments are developed through the WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design Assessment) Consortium and administered by trained/certified school personnel.

English Learner Identification (District):

WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to new students in grades K–12 to help educators identify whether they are English language learners (ELLs). It is a flexible, on-demand assessment that can be administered at any time during the school year. WIDA Screener is available in two formats – online and paper.

The WIDA Screener:

• Aligns with the WIDA English Language Development Standards

• Assesses each of the four language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing

• Reports proficiency level scores for each language domain and for three composite scores: Oral Language, Literacy, and Overall.

• The WIDA Screener Paper test is scored locally by trained raters. Listening and Speaking domains are media-delivered. 

• The WIDA Screener Online test platform automatically scores the Listening and Reading domains during administration. A trained local rater scores the Speaking and Writing domains.

• The WIDA Screener test for Kindergarten is scored locally by the test administrator.

• Proficiency level scores from the WIDA Screener can be used by educators to plan differentiated levels of support for each child. 

If a student is identified as an English learner, an initial identification letter is sent home to families. Information in the letter includes the student's proficiency level, ESL program supports, state/federal regulations and parent's rights, and the opportunity to opt out of ESL support. This letter is sent home annually until the student exits the English language development program. 

English Learner Progress Monitoring (District):

WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten (Kindergarten MODEL) is a flexible, on-demand English language proficiency assessment. The test can be administered at any time during the school year, depending on the needs of the district, school, teacher, or student. The Kindergarten MODEL assessment provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their proficiency in each of the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Results are used to inform instruction in each of the four language domains.

WIDA MODEL for Grades 1-12 is a flexible, on-demand English Language proficiency assessment. This paper or online test can be administered at any time during the school year, depending on the needs of the district, school, teacher, or student. This assessment provides opportunities for grade 1-12 students to demonstrate their English language proficiency in the four language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Results are used to inform instruction in each of the four language domains.

English Learner Progress Monitoring (State):

ACCESS for ELLs (ACCESS) is the collective name for WIDA's suite of summative English language proficiency assessments and is available for WIDA Consortium member states only. Massachusetts is a member of the WIDA Consortium.

ACCESS for ELLs K-12:

• Is administered to Kindergarten through Grade 12 students who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs)

• Is required by the MA Department of Education and is given annually to monitor students' progress in learning academic English

• Meets U.S. federal requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for monitoring and reporting ELLs’ progress toward English language proficiency

• Is anchored in the WIDA English Language Development Standards

• Assesses the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

This assessment is annually administered during the months of January and February. Student reports are generated in late spring. Parents/guardians generally receive ACCESS test results before the close of the school year.