Identification & Placement

Procedures for Multilingual Learner Identification

Proper identification of Multilingual Learners (MLs) helps ensure that the district’s English language acquisition program is best designed to meet the needs of its students. Thus to develop comprehensive English language acquisition and academic programs for MLs, districts, schools, charters and facility schools must first have accurate knowledge regarding student's English Language Proficiency (ELP) level. In Colorado, the English Language Proficiency Act (ELPA) requires all districts and schools to identify and report multilingual learners. In addition, Colorado Senate Bill 109, CRS 22-24-106 requires the use of one common assessment to identify ML students. Colorado administers the Screener for Kindergarten to all kinder and first semester, first-grade students and WIDA Screener to second semester, first-graders through grade 12 students as the state mandated placement assessment which must be used as one indicator to determine English language proficiency level. This process is also used to identify foreign exchange, migrant, immigrant, non-immigrant, refugee, part-time home school, online, charter, and adopted students. Per federal and state guidelines, students who have a language influence other than English must be identified through an evaluation of English language proficiency assessment scores and local evidence, offered a language instruction educational program, and their parents must be notified in writing in a language they understand within 30 days at the beginning of the school year. Throughout the remainder of the school year, determination must happen within two weeks of the student's enrollment. Additional information regarding procedures for ML identification can be found in guidance documents below:

Standardized Identification of Multilingual Learners (PDF) Updated July 2025
WIDA Screener for Grades 1 -12 Guidance (PDF) Updated August 2024
Screener for Kindergarten Guidance (PDF) Updated August 2024

Multilingual Learner Enrollment

State educational agencies are directed to establish statewide entrance and exit procedures which are consistent with Federal civil rights obligations under Title VI. Additionally, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and the Dear Colleague Letter (2015) authorizes States to mandate the manner in which districts and schools should identify and/or assess Multilingual Learners (MLs). As such, State-imposed mechanisms used by districts and schools must seek to use a method of identification, that can adequately identify potential ML students. Following the evaluation of the English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment results and a Body of Evidence (BOE), students must be coded in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Data Pipeline and offered a Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) if they are in fact multilingual learners.

Beginning SY25-26, ACCESS Overall and Literacy scores from the current test year will be added to ML reports to assist districts in meeting the civil rights and educational needs for students, and to provide accurate reporting of student’s language proficiency level. This year’s Student Interchange is scheduled to open on July 14th for district data reporting staff. Once the student interchange is open, districts and schools can begin uploading student data files and using the updated Multilingual Learner History reports (District List and SASID Look Up) to view information provided in data reports when evaluating if enrolling student’s ACCESS scores meet the criteria for redesignation or if scores indicate students would benefit from ongoing language assistance. The district’s and school's inquiry into prior ML history and State ELP assessment scores provided by CDE is an important step taken to avert students from being redesignated prematurely and/or losing language assistance upon enrollment, therefore, increasing a student’s ability to succeed in the classroom.

Foreign Exchange Students

Colorado follows the Federal Guidance which includes foreign exchange students in the 'all students' definition stated in the December 2010 document, Serving Foreign Students, The U.S. Department of Education advises that foreign exchange students who are identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) and enrolled in public elementary or secondary schools in the United States are covered by the holding in the 1974 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Lau v. Nichols. Districts must take affirmative steps to help students with LEP overcome language barriers so that they can participate meaningfully in each district’s education programs. [414 U.S. 563 (1974)].

Students who enroll in a Colorado school district with a language other than English indicated on the Home Language Survey (HLS) should trigger English Language Proficiency (ELP) level investigation. This includes foreign exchange students who indicate a language other than English on the HLS and would prompt the district to investigation their language proficiency by administering WIDA Screener or Screener for Kindergarten.

Foreign exchange students are not exempt from Colorado’s Standardized Identification guidance. Districts are required to follow the same procedures as other students to use Screener scores and body of evidence when making ELP level decisions. If the district determines the foreign exchange student is eligible for English Language Development (ELD) instruction, follow the identification protocol and notify guardian prior to enrolling into an Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP).

Annual English Language Proficiency Assessment for Multilingual Learners

WIDA ACCESS is a secure large-scale English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment given annually to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as multilingual learners (NEP/LEP). It provides educators and parents information about the ELP level in the language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Students who qualify for Language Instruction Educational Programs (LIEP) but parents have formally opted-out of programs, are not exempt from testing. This assessment aligns to the Colorado English Language Proficiency Standards (CELP). Please contact the Assessment Office for more information or training dates for ACCESS.