Highlights

Record Level: Student by Year by Assessment 
Record Count: 65,000-100,000 records per year 
Years Covered: 2007-Present 
Population Coverage: Data covers all students from private, home schooled and public schools who have participated in these assessments. While private and home schooled students are included in this dataset, they are not advised for reporting unless specifically researching questions around those groups of students.

This English Language Learner Assessment Researcher file contains commonly requested student-level assessment data from the K-12 environment pertaining to English language learner assessments. These assessments are composed of the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) and the WIDA. The ELPA was administered to K-12 students identified as English Learners until the 2012-13 school year, and the WIDA has been administered since the 2013-14 school year. We have data from the 2007-2008 school year forward. We anticipate having future years' data as it becomes available.

We have English Language Learner Assessment records for over 320,000 students in total. With regards to each specific assessment, we have records for 150,000 students that were assessed using the ELPA and 245 thousand students that were assessed using the WIDA. Note that 2 thousand of the WIDA students were assessed with the Alternative WIDA because they are students who receive special education services. We have scores for around 100,000 individuals that were tested in Kindergarten. A similar number were tested in 1st and 2nd grade. From 3rd to 12th grade there is a steady decline in the number of individuals assessed; across that grade range the number of students assessed goes from 90,000 to 30,000.

The WIDA consists of four main components: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Our data contains a scaled score for each of the four main components, and it contains a scaled scores for four combinations of the main components: Oral Language (Listening and Speaking), Literacy (Reading and Writing), Comprehension (Listening and Reading), and Overall (a combination of all four language domains). The ELPA consists of the same four core components as the WIDA: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Our ELPA data contains a scaled score for each of the four main components, and it contains a scaled score for two combinations of the main components: Comprehension (Listening and Reading) and Overall (a combination of all four language domains). In addition to the scaled score for each component of the assessment, we have the corresponding performance levels. For the WIDA, we have performance levels corresponding to each scaled score. Students who receive special education services and were assessed with the Alternative WIDA receive distinct performance levels. For the ELPA, we simply have a performance level corresponding to the "Overall" scaled score.

2017 WIDA Update

Students who take the WIDA summative assessment are scored on four language domains and receive a scale score and performance level for each domain. Each of the domain scale scores contributes to an EL’s overall English language proficiency score, with reading and writing being weighted most heavily (35% reading, 35% writing, 15% listening, 15% speaking). In 2017, the WIDA assessment was recalibrated (going from WIDA ACCESS 1.0 to 2.0), and the exam was 1) made substantially more difficult and 2) the modality changed from paper and pencil to online.

Dr. Gary Cook from WIDA has explained that it is not possible to create a 1:1 crosswalk between scale scores from before and after the recalibration. In addition to the change in difficulty and the mode of assessment, the standard setting changed substantially for the writing and speaking components of the exam. Moreover, the WIDA ACCESS 1.0 was a static assessment, and after the switch to WIDA ACCESS 2.0, the reading and listening components are staged adaptive tests, while the speaking and writing are static forms selected based on the performance of students in reading and listening. The domain scores were also rescaled.

Although there is no crosswalk between scale scores on the WIDA ACCESS 1.0 and 2.0, there is a crosswalk between performance levels (PLs). The ordinal performance levels range from 1.0 to 6.0 and the cut scores for PLs are based on scale scores, so these also changed when the standards changed in 2017. Gary Cook shared the 4 attached files, which outline the relationship between PLs across the two versions of the assessment.

Additional Resources

For more information on interpreting the scores, please refer to the official WIDA Interpretive Guide and the Alternative Interpretive Guide for the assessment administered to students who receive special education services.

Codebook

Showing 101 - 200 of 1138 results
Category Variable Description
Category: All Variable: LAST_COLLECTION_ID Description: 

Code associated with the collection in which the student was last reported by any district.
Category: All Variable: ASSIGNED_ISD_NAME Description: 

The name, as recorded in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), that identifies the intermediate school district (ISD) or educational service agency (ESA) in which the district or program is located. This is the ISD that the educator is assigned to.
Category: All Variable: COLLECTION_SCHOOL_YEAR Description: 

The academic school year in which the course was completed by the student.
Category: All Variable: START_YEAR Description: 

The calendar year in which the school year began.
Category: All Variable: RIC Description: 

The unique student identifier--Research Identification Code.
Category: All Variable: OPERATIONAL_DISTRICT_CODE Description: 

The official state assigned five digit code denoting the district of the entity held accountable for the student's graduation status.
Category: All Variable: REPORTING_PERIOD Description: 

Description of the reporting period (school year, fall, spring) that the data represents.
Category: All Variable: OPERATIONAL_ISD_CODE Description: 

The state-assigned two-digit number, as recorded in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), that identifies the intermediate school district (ISD) or educational service agency (ESA) in which the district or program is located.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_YEAR Description: 

The start and end years of the schoolyear that the student attended / received services during the collection used for this record.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_NAME Description: 

The official name assigned to the School or Facility (Building) type of entity held accountable for the student's graduation status.
Category: All Variable: OPERATIONAL_DISTRICT_NAME Description: 

The official district name denoting the district of the entity held accountable for the student's graduation status.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_CODE Description: 

The entity code assigned to the School or Facility (Building) held accountable for the student's graduation status.
Category: All Variable: OPERATIONAL_ISD_NAME Description: 

The name, as recorded in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), that identifies the intermediate school district (ISD) or educational service agency (ESA) in which the district or program is located.
Category: All Variable: OPERATIONAL_DISTRICT_NAME Description: 

The state-assigned name, as recorded in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), which identifies the public school district responsible for providing education to the reported student. It is the district to which any applicable funds (state or federal) will be sent. Otherwise known as the District Name.
Category: All Variable: BUILDING_NAME Description: 

The name as assigned to the building in the official Educational Entity Master. Otherwise known as Building Name.
Category: All Variable: EMPLOYED_ISD_CODE Description: 

The state-assigned five-digit number, as recorded in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), that identifies the intermediate school district (ISD) or educational service agency (ESA) in which the district or program is located. This is the ISD that the educator is employed by.
Category: All Variable: EMPLOYED_DISTRICT_CODE Description: 

The official state assigned five digit code denoting the district that the educator is employed by.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_NAME Description: 

The name as assigned to the building in the official Educational Entity Master (EEM).
Category: All Variable: ENTITY_TYPE Description: 

Description of Entity Type which indicates whether the school/entity that the staff is assigned to, is private, charter, public, state-run, etc.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_OPEN_DATE Description: 

The actual opening date of the school or when it begins to do business.
Category: All Variable: MOECS_EDUCATOR_ID Description: 

A unique identification code assigned to educators when they enter their information in MOECS for the first time, to keep the anonymity of the staff.
Category: All Variable: COLLECTION Description: 

Name of Collection during which the data in a given record were reported.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_YEAR Description: 

Description of School Year which the data represents.
Category: All Variable: RPIC Description: 

A unique Personnel Identification Code (PIC) which is modified for the researcher's database (i.e., Research Personnel Identification Code = RPIC) to keep the anonymity of the staff.
Category: All Variable: RIC Description: 

The unique student identifier--Research Identification Code.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_YEAR Description: 

Description of the school year that the data represents.
Category: All Variable: SUBMITTING_SCHOOL_CODE Description: 

The state-assigned five- or nine-digit code from EEM of the entity responsiblefor the certification (if applicable) of the collection. Generally, this is theentity receiving funding. It may or may not be the entity that is directlyproviding education services to the student. This field identifies the building entity submitting the record. Note not all children submitted will have a building code, it is optional for community based programs.
Category: All Variable: TABLE_ID Description: 

Unique key generated to relate records from Main to Programs tables. Note this key was generated for the relationship of these tables and cannot be used with K12 data.
Category: All Variable: COLLECTION Description: 

Description of the reporting period (school year, fall, spring) that the data represents.
Category: All Variable: SUBMITTING_DISTRICT_NAME Description: 

The name, as recorded in EEM, which identifies the district entity submitting the record.
Category: All Variable: SUBMITTING_SCHOOL_NAME Description: 

The name assigned to the submitting school building in the official Educational Entity Master.
Category: All Variable: SUBMITTING_DISTRICT_CODE Description: 

The state-assigned five- or nine-digit code from EEM of the entity responsiblefor the certification (if applicable) of the collection. Generally, this is theentity receiving funding. It may or may not be the entity that is directlyproviding education services to the student. This field identifies the district entity submitting the record.
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_NAME Description: 

The name as assigned to the building in the official Educational Entity Master application. (based in EEM).
Category: All Variable: SCHOOL_CODE Description: 

The five-digit code as assigned to the building in the official Educational Entity Master application (based in EEM).
Category: All Variable: OPERATIONAL_DISTRICT_CODE Description: 

The state-assigned five-digit number, as recorded in the Educational Entity Master (EEM), which identifies the public school district responsible for providing education to the reported student. It is the district to which any applicable funds (state or federal) will be sent. Otherwise known as the District Code.
Category: All Variable: BUILDING_CODE Description: 

The five-digit code as assigned to the building in the official Educational Entity Master. Otherwise known as Building Code.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: SOC_MIACCESS_TEST_TYPE Description: 

1) MI-Access Functional Independence (FI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the High Range of Complexity. 2) MI-Access Supported Independence (SI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Medium Range of Complexity. 3) MI-Access Participation (P) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Low Range of Complexity.* Essential Elements are specific statements of Knowledge and Skills linked to the grade-level standards.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: RDG_MIACCESS_TEST_TYPE Description: 

1) MI-Access Functional Independence (FI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the High Range of Complexity. 2) MI-Access Supported Independence (SI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Medium Range of Complexity. 3) MI-Access Participation (P) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Low Range of Complexity.* Essential Elements are specific statements of Knowledge and Skills linked to the grade-level standards.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: MTH_MIACCESS_TEST_TYPE Description: 

1) MI-Access Functional Independence (FI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the High Range of Complexity. 2) MI-Access Supported Independence (SI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Medium Range of Complexity. 3) MI-Access Participation (P) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Low Range of Complexity.* Essential Elements are specific statements of Knowledge and Skills linked to the grade-level standards.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: SCI_MIACCESS_TEST_TYPE Description: 

1) MI-Access Functional Independence (FI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the High Range of Complexity. 2) MI-Access Supported Independence (SI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Medium Range of Complexity. 3) MI-Access Participation (P) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Low Range of Complexity.* Essential Elements are specific statements of Knowledge and Skills linked to the grade-level standards.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: ELA_MIACCESS_TEST_TYPE Description: 

1) MI-Access Functional Independence (FI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the High Range of Complexity. 2) MI-Access Supported Independence (SI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Medium Range of Complexity. 3) MI-Access Participation (P) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Low Range of Complexity.* Essential Elements are specific statements of Knowledge and Skills linked to the grade-level standards.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: WRI_MIACCESS_TEST_TYPE Description: 

1) MI-Access Functional Independence (FI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the High Range of Complexity. 2) MI-Access Supported Independence (SI) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Medium Range of Complexity. 3) MI-Access Participation (P) – For students who have, or function as if they have, a significant cognitive impairment, and whose instruction is most closely aligned to the Essential Elements* and within the Low Range of Complexity.* Essential Elements are specific statements of Knowledge and Skills linked to the grade-level standards.
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: IS_SCHOOL_TESTED_FAY Description: 

Is the student considered a full academic year (FAY) participant for the school during this year (Y= Yes; N=No; U=Unknown).
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: IS_STATE_TESTED_FAY Description: 

Is the student considered a full academic year (FAY) participant for the state during this year (Y= Yes; N=No; U=Unknown).
Category: Alternative Assessments Variable: IS_DISTRICT_TESTED_FAY Description: 

Is the student considered a full academic year (FAY) participant for the district during this year (Y= Yes; N=No; U=Unknown).
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_SS Description: 

The scaled score for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_AGP_YRS_PROJ Description: 

The timeframe in which students are expected to reach proficiency.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_PL_NAME Description: 

The performance level name for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_SGP Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_PL_RANGE Description: 

A distinction which further differentiates whether the student was Low, Mid or High within their designated performance level for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_SS Description: 

The scaled score for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: WRI_SS_SE Description: 

The scaled score standard error for the writing portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: WRI_SS Description: 

The scaled score for the writing portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_RSCH_Z_SCORE Description: 

A standardized score assigned to each student that describes each students relationship to the mean of all students with a score.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_PL_CHANGE Description: 

Performance level change is used to compare student performance from year to year for the reading portion of the assessment . Transition categories are: Significant Decline, Decline, Maintaining, Improvement, or Significant Improvement. Abbreviations are not used in this field, rather the actual descriptions are used.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_SGP_LEVEL_DESC Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) description for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_PL_NAME Description: 

The performance level name for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: WRI_PL Description: 

The performance level for the writing portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_THETA_SE Description: 

The Theta standard error for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_RSCH_Z_SCORE Description: 

A standardized score assigned to each student that describes each students relationship to the mean of all students with a score.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_THETA_SE Description: 

The Theta standard error for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_PL Description: 

The performance level for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_PL Description: 

The performance level for the reading portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_VALID Description: 

Flag denoting whether the student's test was valid for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_THETA_SE Description: 

The Theta standard error for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_SS Description: 

The scaled score for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_SS_SE Description: 

The scaled score standard error for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: WRI_VALID Description: 

Flag denoting whether the student's test was valid for the writing portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_VALID Description: 

Flag denoting whether the student's test was valid for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_PL_RANGE Description: 

A distinction which further differentiates whether the student was Low, Mid or High within their designated performance level for the reading portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_PL_NAME Description: 

The performance level name for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_SGP_LEVEL_DESC Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) description for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_PL_NAME Description: 

The performance level name for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_PL Description: 

The performance level for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_SGP_LEVEL_DESC Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) description for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_VALID Description: 

Flag denoting whether the student's test was valid for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_THETA_SE Description: 

The Theta standard error for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_SGP Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_SS Description: 

The scaled score for the reading portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_OVERALL_AGP Description: 

The adequate growth percentile (AGP) for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_AGP_YRS_PROJ Description: 

The timeframe in which students are expected to reach proficiency.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: WRI_PL_NAME Description: 

The performance level name for the writing portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_SS_SE Description: 

The scaled score standard error for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_OVERALL_AGP Description: 

The adequate growth percentile (AGP) for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_PL_NAME Description: 

The performance level name for the reading portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_OVERALL_AGP Description: 

The adequate growth percentile (AGP) for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_SGP Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SOC_SS_SE Description: 

The scaled score standard error for the social studies portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_RSCH_Z_SCORE Description: 

A standardized score assigned to each student that describes each students relationship to the mean of all students with a score.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_OVERALL_AGP Description: 

The adequate growth percentile (AGP) for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_PL_CHANGE Description: 

Performance level change is used to compare student performance from year to year for the mathematics portion of the assessment . Transition categories are: Significant Decline, Decline, Maintaining, Improvement, or Significant Improvement. Abbreviations are not used in this field, rather the actual descriptions are used.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_PL Description: 

The performance level for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_SS_SE Description: 

The scaled score standard error for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_SGP Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) for the science portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: MTH_SS Description: 

The scaled score for the mathematics portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_VALID Description: 

Flag denoting whether the student's test was valid for the reading portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: RDG_THETA_SE Description: 

The Theta standard error for the reading portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_SGP_LEVEL_DESC Description: 

The student growth percentile (SGP) description for the English language arts portion of the assessment.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: SCI_AGP_YRS_PROJ Description: 

The timeframe in which students are expected to reach proficiency.
Category: Assessment Score Variable: ELA_AGP_YRS_PROJ Description: 

The timeframe in which students are expected to reach proficiency.