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North Kingstown outlines MLL testing, training and staffing plans after RIDE rule changes
Summary
District staff told the committee there are 74 active multilingual learners and that RIDE has updated ACCESS testing and administrator requirements; staff will require asynchronous MLL awareness training for all staff by 2026–27 and are considering further proficiency training and staffing to meet new requirements.
District staff presented an update on multilingual learner (MLL) services and recent Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) changes at the March 31 school committee meeting.
The presenter (introduced as Mr. Money) said the district has 74 active students who speak languages other than English; some students are being monitored for two years, and six students are eligible but not enrolled in MLL programs. RIDE has redesigned WIDA ACCESS testing for kindergarten and grades 1–12 for 2025–26 and plans a standard-setting session in July 2026 to calibrate scores. The district reviewed proficiency level definitions (WIDA levels 1–6) and explained how proficiency targets are set and tracked with ELP plans.
Staff said RIDE will classify districts by incidence level (low, medium, high) and that in 2026–27 all staff must complete asynchronous MLL awareness training; the district plans to embed that training in professional development and to further offer proficiency-level training and endorsement pathways for select teachers and administrators. The district currently employs six MLL specialists and reported access testing occurred between January 6 and February 14, 2025. Tools for family communications and translations (described in the record as "Thrillshare") are in use to support multilingual communications.
Committee questions focused on timeline and whether the district currently meets state service-level requirements; staff said the district has not yet met the state threshold and will be considering staffing and budget options to close gaps. Staff emphasized efforts to build capacity among classroom teachers to better support MLL students and to make translations and home-language communications more consistent across schools.
Next steps: Administration will incorporate RIDE regulatory updates into planning, finalize the timeline for the asynchronous training completion (target: end of the next school year), and return with staffing and budget implications if additional personnel are needed to meet the new requirements.
