Get Involved!
State Education Agencies
Join the WIDA Consortium
States interested in joining the WIDA Consortium can contact Jesse Markow, Director of Communication and Business Development, for more information.
Benefits of joining the WIDA Consortium
What people are saying about WIDA
Educators
Support WIDA Product Development
WIDA always involves teachers from member states in its development processes to ensure that products are relevant for use with students. These tasks include test item development, content and bias reviews, alignment, drafting and reviewing publications, and a variety of other tasks.
To participate in test item development or content and bias reviews, please contact Carsten Wilmes, Director of Assessment.
To participate in the drafting or reviewing of publications, please contact Andrea Cammilleri.
From time to time, WIDA will send out surveys to solicit the valued opinions of ELL educators. If you would like to have your opinion included, please contact Danielle Maillette.
ELD Standards - Strand Writing
Opportunities to participate in reviewing the WIDA ELD Standards, 2011 Edition via a series of surveys will exist in the fall of 2011. If you would like to know more, please contact Andrea Cammilleri.
SLD Standards
To volunteer as a reviewer of the draft WIDA SLD Standards or to learn more about the SALSA grant project, please contact Lorena Mancilla.
Share Your Experience
WIDA deeply values collaborating with educators from across the Consortium. If you would like to share your experience (such as this teacher reflection) please contact Andrea Cammilleri.
Dual Language Listserv
Many dual language educators believe that the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) make it difficult for dual language schools to meet annual yearly progress (AYP) indicators, resulting potentially in undeserved sanctions for schools. The upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) offers dual language educators an opportunity to have an impact on federal policies that will improve the recognition of their unique needs and strengths.
WIDA has agreed to host a Listserv to allow dual language educators across the U.S. an opportunity to dialogue, share best practices, and strategize about new policies that promote and support high quality dual language practices and outcomes. Administrators and teachers from Nuestro Mundo, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin's first dual language immersion school, have agreed to serve as Listserv moderators to stimulate the conversation. WIDA staff will participate only minimally as they want to encourage educators in the field to be the main contributors to this Listserv.
WIDA will also be providing technical support for the Listserv. If you wish to subscribe, please send an email to Bob Rossa at and write "Subscribe to Dual Language Listserv" in the subject line.
Credit-Bearing Courses
Educating English Learners
This course is designed to support preK-12 educators--teachers, support staff, and administrators--who are making decisions as to program and staffing designs, support services and resources, and educational approaches for English learners. Based on a sociocultural view of schooling for English learners, it draws on the lives and experiences of 5 students from diverse backgrounds in different locales to illuminate issues that impact the language, literacy and academic development of English learners in schools. Through viewing videos of students, readings, collaborative discussions and activities, course participants will engage in analyses of issues, and applications of course content to their specific sites and contexts.
To learn more, including dates, cost, and objectives, please download the course flyer. 
You may also preview a trailer of the course videos (Note: The videos are offered in high resolution and low resolution formats. It is recommended that you try to view the high res format for a clear view of all text and graphics. If you have trouble with the high res format, please try the low res format.)
This course can be taken for three graduate-level credits or as a non-credit offering. It is intended for teachers, staff, and administrators who are currently practicing in schools. For registration information or questions, please contact Lisa Hebgen, Education Outreach & Partnerships, at, or 608-263-0951.
Standards-Based Test Item Writing and WIDA Teacher Collaboration
ESL and general education teachers are invited to enroll as partners in the intensive WIDA Online Item Writing Course and learn to prepare standards-based language proficiency assessment tasks for ACCESS for ELLs.
For more information, including application deadlines, please see our page on Item Writing.