Talking Points and Strategies to Get Your Administrators on Board with WIDA

This article provides strategies and key talking points when approaching administrators on issues of WIDA implementation, staying legal, and most importantly, meeting the needs of English learners. It offers tips on analyzing the pathways to decision-making in organizations, along with how to influence decision makers on issues of professional development and meeting EL students’ needs.  Some key points of discussion are:  Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) requirements that schools implement the WIDA Standards and train teachers; Indiana’s A – F Accountability system’s inclusion of student observed growth in equal proportion to student achievement; the resurgence of focus on laws and the rights of ELs to a free and appropriate public education; preparing a menu of training options to share with the leadership team; research on the importance of the school corporation supporting, including and providing training opportunities for ENL leaders; and key areas supporting ELs that the superintendent can influence.