Washington: ELL Resources

As of the 2016-2017 school year, Washington’s schools were home to over 122,000 English language learners. As of the 2014-2015 school year, the most common five languages spoken by ELLs in Washington were Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Somali, and Chinese. (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)
State ELL Resources
State Agency: State of Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
ELL Websites:
ELL Identification
Assessment: ELPA21
Home Language Survey: A Home Language Survey is provided on the ELL website. Translations are also available in multiple languages.
Parent Notifications: Parent documents are currently available in multiple languages on the state website.
ELP Standards
ELP Standards: ELPA21
Statewide Standards-Based Assessment
Assessment: Measurements of Student Progress
ELL Accommodations: Accommodations and Assessment Information
Additional Information
NCELA: Title III Information
Common Core State Standards: Yes
ESSA: Washington ESSA State Plan
Statewide Organizations
AFT Washington is a state federation affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. We represent about 4,500 members including faculty from community and technical colleges and pre-K.
Washington Association for the Education of Speakers of Other Languages
WAESOL, the Washington state affiliate to Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), is a professional, non-profit organization whose purpose is to serve members of the ESL community in the state of Washington.
Washington Education Association
Washington Education Association is a National Education Association State Affiliate that regularly lobbies legislators for the resources schools need, campaigns for higher professional standards for the teaching profession, and files legal actions to protect academic freedom and the rights of school employees.
Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE)
A parent organization providing support, training and informational resources to empower families and individuals with disabilities.
Washington: Seal of Biliteracy
Washington State adopted the Seal of Biliteracy in 2014. The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
Research and Reports
- Advanced Course Enrollment and Performance Among English Learner Students in Washington State
- The Dropout/Graduation Crisis Among American Indian and Alaska Native Students: Failure to Respond Places the Future of Native Peoples at Risk
- Asian Americans in Washington State: Closing Their Hidden Achievement Gaps
Note: Regulations change with time. These guidelines were compiled in January of 2012 and updated in January 2020. If you see something that needs updating, please send an e-mail to Colorín Colorado. For more detailed information regarding ELL guidelines and policies at the state and federal levels, please see the following:
References
National Center for Education Statistics. (2018.) English language learner (ELL) students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, fall 2000 through fall 2016.
U.S. Department of Education. Our Nation’s English Learners. Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken by English Learners.