Colorado English Language Proficiency Standards

On December 10, 2009 the Colorado State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the World-Class Instruction Design and Assessment (WIDA) standards as the Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) standards. English Language Proficiency standards are required by Colorado state and federal law. The CELP standards exceed minimum legal requirements. Overall, the standards center on the English language needed and used by English Language Learners (ELLs) to succeed in school. They guide all educators who teach ELLs and help students’ access grade level academic content while learning English.

The 2012 amplification of the WIDA standards are now an amplification to the CELP standards. The 2007 edition of the WIDA standards adopted as the CELP standards are not replaced by the 2012 addition to the standards. The 2012 document was developed with input from leaders in the field of English language development, as well as educators from the WIDA consortia states. The latest research as well as the Common Core standards informed the 2012 extension of the WIDA standards.

While the CELP standards are designed to meet support ELLs specifically in accessing the Colorado Academic Standards, the methods employed by educators to address academic language in the CELP standards, within and across disciplines, are considered promising practice for the benefit of all students.

The CELP Standards for Kindergarten through Grade 12 are:

Colorado is in the process of becoming a member of the WIDA consortium and will use the WIDA assessments that are aligned to the CELP standards.

Pending becoming a consortia state, Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has a licensure agreement to use WIDA standards and make them available to the public through an electronic copy on the CDE website. The WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards, 2007 Edition, preschool through Grade 12 (“WIDA ELP Standards”) are owned by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of the WIDA Consortium. The WIDA ELP Standards are protected by United States copyright laws and may not be reproduced, modified, or distributed without the prior written permission. The WIDA ELP Standards are for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may not alter or remove any trademark or copyright notice from the standards. Fair use of the WIDA ELP Standards includes reproduction for the purpose of teaching (including multiple copies for lesson planning).

The following is a brief comparison of the Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) standards to Colorado’s previous English Language Development (ELD) standards.

Please note that Colorado has not joined the WIDA consortium, a decision concerning membership in the WIDA consortium will be made after input from the Assessment Stakeholders as part of the process of developing a state assessment system.

Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has a licensure agreement to use WIDA standards and make them available to the public through an electronic copy on the CDE website. The WIDA English Language Proficiency Standards, 2007 Edition, preschool through Grade 12 (“WIDA ELP Standards”) are owned by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of the WIDA Consortium. The WIDA ELP Standards are protected by United States copyright laws and may not be reproduced, modified, or distributed without the prior written permission. The WIDA ELP Standards are for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may not alter or remove any trademark or copyright notice from the standards. Fair use of the WIDA ELP Standards includes reproduction for the purpose of teaching (including multiple copies for lesson planning).

The following is a brief comparison of the new Colorado adopted World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards to Colorado’s previous English Language Development (ELD) standards.

For Website assistance for the Colorado English Language Proficiency Standards, please e-mail Liliana Graham.