Ellensburg reports rise in WIDA exits; district starts monthly teaching-and-learning newsletter

Jennifer Kuntz, the district’s executive director of teaching and learning, told the board that WIDA language-assessment scores were released and that 24 students have exited multilingual services so far this year, compared with 19 last year and five in the program’s first WIDA year. Kuntz said the district will continue analyzing adequate-progress measures tied to ELA SBA scores before final determinations about exits are complete.

Kuntz noted the district is required to monitor students’ academic progress for two years after they exit language services and said the district will rescreen and re-enter students into services if screening shows a sustained language barrier. "We are required to track them for two years, their academic progress for two years after they exit services," she said.

Kuntz also announced a monthly teaching-and-learning newsletter intended to share priority-area updates, spotlights and celebrations, professional‑development information and a data-reporting section with an embedded feedback form so staff can submit questions or requests.

Board members asked how the district follows students after exit; Kuntz reiterated the two‑year monitoring requirement and described a process for reconvening staff conversations and rescreening if academic tracking indicates the student is not making adequate growth.

The superintendent and T&L staff said they will report further data on adequate progress after ELA SBA results arrive and asked the board for continued support as the district evaluates trends and possible school-to-school practices worth sharing.