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Eligibilty Process

Eligibility for Multilingual Services

ll students who register for school in Washington State complete a Home Language Survey as part of the enrollment process. This survey helps us identify students who may need English language support.

If a language other than English is listed for either:

  • The first language the student learned, or
  • The language the student speaks most at home.

The student is considered multilingual and will be screened to see if they qualify for English language services.

Washington State uses the WIDA assessments and standards (starting in the 2021–22 school year) to support multilingual learners.

Screening Process:

  • Students who have not been previously screened in Washington will take the WIDA or WIDA Alt Screener to determine eligibility.
  • Most students are screened when they begin attending school, but some may be screened during the summer.
  • Students qualify for services if their scores are below the required levels in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
  • Students are not eligible for services if they meet or exceed these scores:
    • Kindergarten & Grade 1: Overall score of 4.5, with at least a 4 in each domain
    • Grades 2–12: Overall score of 5.0, with at least a 4 in each domain