New York State’s transition from NYSITELL/NYSESLAT to WIDA assessments is underway, with WIDA ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS launching in Spring 2027 — and the planning work needs to start now. This session gives school leaders, administrators, and MLL/ELL educators the latest NYSED updates on the transition. You’ll leave knowing where your school should be in its planning and how to use the portal’s training modules, webinars, and resources.
New York’s initial WIDA ACCESS materials ordering window runs Tuesday, 10/6 through Monday, 11/2, and test coordinators with active WIDA AMS accounts should have received ordering instructions from DRC on September 29. Join us for a pop-up office hours session to get ahead of the ordering window and walk through what to expect.
We’ll cover:
- What to look for in the WIDA/DRC email (sent from help@wida.wisc.edu) and what to do if you don’t have an active WIDA AMS account
- How materials ordering works in WIDA AMS
- Why to enter the actual number of students expected to test (overage is provided automatically) and what happens if you miss the initial window
- Who tests on which format: WIDA ACCESS Online, WIDA ACCESS Paper (only when permitted by an IEP or 504 Plan), WIDA ACCESS for Kindergarten, and WIDA Alternate ACCESS
- Key dates ahead: the additional materials window (January 19-April 2, 2027) and the testing window (February 1-April 9, 2027)
Note: This session is intended to build awareness and support initial planning efforts — it is not a comprehensive training on administering WIDA assessments. It is SEAT-FREE for members.
Facilitator: Rene Minnocci
WIDA™ and ACCESS™ are federally registered marks owned by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Neither the NYC Charter School Center, The Collaborative for Inclusive Education, nor any of our courses or modules are sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
