English Language Proficiency

Montana's english language proficiency (ELP) standards

These standards support the academic success of Academic English Learners and Multilingual Learners (AELs & MLs) by recognizing and building on the rich linguistic and cultural assets they bring to the classroom. These students, that include speakers of Indigenous, heritage, immigrant languages, or diverse varieties of English, contribute to a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. Affirming students’ cultural identities and fostering academic English development in the four domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are essential for full participation in all content areas. The ELP Standards are aligned with Montana’s academic content standards and the Indian Education for All Essential Understandings, and they serve as a guide for schools and districts to implement high-quality instruction, integrated literacy strategies, and community-centered supports. These standards reflect Montana’s commitment to ensuring all students thrive in school, graduate with confidence, and are prepared for college, careers, and lifelong learning.

• MT English Language Proficiency Content Standards - 2025
• MT English Language Proficiency Content Standards Guidance Document
• MT ELP Content Standards on Satchel
• MT ELP Standards in Administrative Rule of Montana

Montana is a member of the WIDA consortium. To help clarify terminology, Montana adopted standards that align with the WIDA standards but Montana refers to these as the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards, wherein WIDA refers to them as the English Language Development (ELD) Standards. For more information on funding, forms, and processes please visit the English Learners website.

Resources

• ELL Strategies & Best Practices: A bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners: Colorin Colorado!

Professional Learning

• Hoping to get some professional development from the OPI? Fill out our professional development request form! We are happy to explore how we can meet your needs for professional learning that expands instructional practice, standards implementation, or support for the specific needs of your school or district. Please be advised that a request does not guarantee in person training will be provided. Each request will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
• An Interview with Serena Wright and Allyson Fraser on English Language Learners

Last Best Learning Podcast Episode 5: Every Voice Every Day: Addressing an Expanding Need in Montana , with special guests Serena Wright and Allyson Fraser

Last Best Learning Podcast Episode 7: Every Voice Every Day: Embracing Diversity Through Inclusive Instruction with special guests, Carrie Owen, Rebecca Turk, and Aria Peters

• WIDA offers Professional Learning that you can complete when you want, where you want, and at your own pace.
  • Log into your WIDA Secure Portal account. Don't have an account yet? Visit your member/state page on the WIDA website to learn more
  • Click on the "Professional Learning" icon to view available workshops.
  • Review the workshop descriptions and choose the workshops that best meet your professional goals.
• Video explaining the updates to the Home Language Survey

Can Do Descriptors

The Can Do Descriptors highlight what language learners can do at various stages of language development as they engage in the following contexts:

• Bilingual and English-immersion early care and education programs
• Bilingual, Spanish-immersion and English-immersion K-12 language programs
• Bilingual, Spanish-immersion and English-immersion K-12 content-area classrooms

Similar to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Statements, the Can Do Descriptors describe what learners can do with language across different content areas. Although the Can Do Descriptors relate to the ELD Standards Statements, they don’t replace them but are used to supplement the standards statements during instruction.

Educators and early childhood practitioners can use the Can Do Descriptors to

• Better understand what students at different levels of language proficiency can do with language
• Expand their understanding of what the process of language development can look like
• Collaborate around scaffolding that students need to engage in content-area learning and develop language at the same time
• Differentiate instruction and classroom assessment for language
• Interpret ACCESS for ELLs test scores

Can Do Descriptors and the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition

The Can Do Descriptors have not yet been updated to reflect the 2020 Edition; however, they remain available as a valuable tool for communicating with stakeholders about what students can do at each language proficiency level. WIDA is monitoring educator use to help inform the timing for updating the materials.

K-12 Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition

• This edition is organized around four overarching communicative purposes called Key Uses: Recount, Explain, Argue, Discuss.
• The Descriptors are organized by the following grade level clusters, corresponding with ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener.
• To purchase copies of the K-12 Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition that are color printed and bound, visit the WIDA Store.
  • Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition Kindergarten
  • Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition Grade 1
  • Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition Grades 2-3
  • Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition Grades 4-5
  • Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition Grades 6-8
  • Can Do Descriptors, Key Uses Edition Grades 9-12

Alternate Can Do Descriptors

• The Alternate Can Do Descriptors (Alt Can Dos) are the first-ever Can Do Descriptors for multilingual learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The Alt Can Dos exemplify what students can do with communication and language at various stages of English language development.
• The Alt Can Dos are arranged into the same grade-level clusters (K–2, 3–5, 6–8 and 9–12) as WIDA Alternate ACCESS. Within each grade-level cluster, the Alt Can Dos are organized by interpretive (listening and reading) and expressive (speaking and writing) communication modes for each WIDA ELD Standard and the five levels of English language development.

Early Years Can Do Descriptors

• The Early Years Can Do Descriptors provide examples of language use for three overarching communicative purposes: Express Self, Recount, Inquire (for receptive and expressive language domains).
• They are organized by the following age clusters: 2.5-3.5, 3.5-4.5, 4.5-5.5
• To purchase copies of the Early Years Can Do Descriptors that are color printed and bound, visit the WIDA Store.
• Can Do Descriptors, Early Years (includes all age clusters)
• Los descriptors Podemos: Educación temprana

WIDA ACCESS Assessment Resources

Montana is a member of the WIDA consortium.  To help clarify terminology, Montana adopted standards that align with the WIDA standards but Montana refers to these as the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards, wherein WIDA refers to them as the English Language Development (ELD) Standards. For more information on funding, forms, and processes, please visit the English Learners website.