Every year around this time, students in the ELL (English Language Learning) Program at Lester Prairie begin preparing for the annual WIDA assessment, ACCESS for ELLs. This test measures a student's English proficiency in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking. After the test, a student's results are calculated into a number 1-6, which stands for a proficiency level. This score is one of the criteria that is considered when identifying a child's status in the ELL Program. Since 2010, this test has been Minnesota's mandated assessment for all students K-12 who are identified as an ELL; however, the WIDA test is changing and ever-evolving. This year, the paper-pencil test made the jump to an exclusively online format.
The Lester Prairie School District is embracing the change. Students will be taking this test on desktop computers for the first time. LPP4E (Lester Prairie Parents for Education) has graciously covered the cost of headsets that will be used during the administration of the test. Students have been setting goals and practicing hard.
The ELL team at Lester Prairie is comprised of teacher, Mrs. Tanya Minnick, and paraprofessional, Mrs. Jannina Wall. Currently, the ELL Program offers services to 34 students, which is 12% of the district's population.
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