English Language Proficiency Standards

Revision Schedule



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.

 

Montana & the WIDA Consortium

Montana is a proud member of the WIDA Consortium, a national network that develops standards and assessments for English language learners. While Montana follows the same framework, we refer to them as the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards, whereas WIDA officially calls them English Language Development (ELD) Standards. These aligned standards ensure consistency and rigor in supporting multilingual students across the state.

For detailed information on funding, forms, and procedures, please visit the English Learners section of the Montana Office of Public Instruction website.

 

*New* English Language Proficiency Content Standards Guidance

The Montana English Language Proficiency Content Standards Guidance Document is designed to support educators and administrators with guidance and tools for implementing Montana’s English Language Proficiency Content Standards, adopted by the Board of Public Education in 2023 and set for implementation in July 2025.

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


Name Charts

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades K-12

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Kindergarten

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grade 1

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 2-3

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 4-5

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 6-8

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grade 9-12

Can Do Descriptors

A tool to help you meet students where they are in their language development

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


Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades K-12

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Kindergarten

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grade 1

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 2-3

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 4-5

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grades 6-8

Can Do Descriptors Name Charts, Grade 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 descriptores Podemos: Educación temprana

WIDA ACCESS assessment Resources

  • client services specialists are just a phone call or email away. 

  •  Assessment webinars on the Webinars page in the WIDA Secure Portal.

  •  Accessibility and Accommodations Manual is updated for 2024-25 and includes

  • Clarification about the use of electronic devices for medical purposes in the test environment

  • Revised guidance on scribing related to the use of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices and to remove requirements around spelling, punctuation and grammar

  • guidance on administering WIDA Screener to students who are blind or have low vision and/or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Find this resource in the WIDA Secure Portal when filtering by Accessibility and Accommodations.

  • ICYMI: The Advancing ALTELLA team published the Assessing English Learners with Disabilities: A Glossary of Terms. This glossary demystifies the terms, acronyms and jargon that are used by those who support multilingual learners with disabilities. Browse the online glossary or download and print the PDF version.

The English Language Proficiency Standards are currently in the Professional Learning phase of the revision process. The links below give access to review the work being done in these revisions and stay tuned for more information on professional learning for these standards.

Task Force Resources

Meeting Documents

May 4-6, 2023

Working Document

Task Force Members

Rebecca Turk

Jioanna Carjuzaa

Carlyn Grimaldi

Enkhchimeg Sharav

Aria Peters

Carrie Owen

Acer Pitas

Jonathan Eagleman

 

 

 


Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

Meetings concluded on October 2, 2023. 

  • All information on NRC processes can be viewed under 'Previous Meeting Information'

Resources:

Previous Meeting Information

October 2, 2023

Agenda | Minutes | Recording

September 29, 2023

Agenda | Recording

September 7, 2023

Agenda | Minutes | Recording

August 24, 2023

Agenda | Minutes | Recording

August 16, 2023 - Orientation

Agenda | Minutes | Recording

Committee Information

Amanda Burkhart - Parent, Taxpayer - Helena, MT

Sue Furey - Parent, Taxpayer, Retired Teacher - Missoula, MT

Bruce Tribbensee - Parent, Taxpayer - Missoula, MT

Sonja Verlanic - Parent, Taxpayer - Missoula, MT

Julie Williams - Parent, Taxpayer, Higher Ed - Livingston, MT

Ragna Thorne Thomsen - Parent, Taxpayer, Business Owner - Missoula, MT

Danielle Morrison - K-12 Teacher - Bozeman, MT

Kathy Milodragovich - Parent, Taxpayer, Retired Teacher, School Board Trustee - Butte, MT

Rebecca Rappold - Director of Curriculum, Montana Tribe Representative - Browning, MT

Kristen Brook - K-12 Teacher - Billings, MT

Melit Flynn - School Business Official - Shelby, MT

Dr. Julie Murgel - Chef Program Officer, OPI - Helena, MT

 


OPI Staff are here to help:

Michelle McCarthy, OPI Instructional Coordinator
Marie Judisch, Teaching and Learning Senior Manager

 

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