CELP/WIDA Basics

WIDA ELD Standards [Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards]

Table 1 - 1: WIDA ELD Standards Statements

Suggestion for use: In 2009, Colorado adopted the WIDA ELD Standards as the Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards. These 5 standards, found on Introduction page i of the 2007 Editions, page 4, of the 2012 Amplification, and Introduction page 9 of the 2020 Edition of WIDA’s English Language Development Standards, represent the social, instructional, and academic language that students need to engage with peers, educators, and the curriculum in schools. Although WIDA continues to develop additional resources, the 5 CELP standards remain the same and should be used to guide instruction, in conjunction with the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS).

Citation: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. (2007). WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards PreKindergarten through Grade 5, 2007 Edition (Publication). (2007) WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards Grade 6 through Grade 12, 2007 Edition (Publication). (2012) WIDA's 2012 Amplification of the English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten - Grade 12 (Publication). (2020) WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition Kindergarten – Grade 12 (Publication). Wisconsin Center for Education Research which partnered with The Center for Applied Linguistics.

The Features of Academic Language

Suggestion for use: The Features of Academic Language, found on page 5 of WIDA’s 2012 Amplification of the English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten – Grade 12, delineate academic language features across 3 dimensions of language:

• Discourse
• Sentence
• Word/Phrase

These features operate within sociocultural contexts for language use. Educators may use the features of academic language to analyze students’ oral and written language as well as to analyze texts students will hear or read.

Citation: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. (2012). WIDA's 2012 Amplification of the English Language Development Standards Kindergarten – Grade 12. (Publication). Wisconsin Center for Education Research which partnered with The Center for Applied Linguistics.

Dimensions of Language within a Sociocultural Context

WIDA Performance Definitions for Speaking and Writing

Suggestion for use: The WIDA Performance Definitions for Speaking and Writing, found on page 7, provide a brief overview of what K-12 English learners should be able to produce through speaking and/or writing toward the end of each given level of English proficiency. The Performance Definitions have recently been more specifically delineated by grade level band Proficiency Level Descriptors for the Expressive Communication Mode (Speaking, Writing, and Representing). For more information and links to grade level span Proficiency Level Descriptors, visit the Formative Assessments webpage.

Citation: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. (2012). WIDA's 2012 Amplification of the ELD Standards (Publication). Wisconsin Center for Education Research which partnered with The Center for Applied Linguistics.

WIDA Performance Definitions for Listening and Reading

Suggestion for use: The WIDA Performance Definitions for Listening and Reading, found on page 6, provide a brief overview of what K-12 English learners should be able to process through reading and/or listening toward the end of each given level of English proficiency. The Performance Definitions have recently been more specifically delineated by grade level band Proficiency Level Descriptors for the Interpretive Communication Mode (Listening, Reading, and Viewing). For more information and links to grade level span Proficiency Level Descriptors, visit the Formative Assessments webpage.

Citation: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. (2012). WIDA's 2012 Amplification of the ELD Standards (Publication). Wisconsin Center for Education Research which partnered with The Center for Applied Linguistics.