WIDA
New York State's transition from NYSITELL/NYSESLAT to the WIDA Consortium — what it means for districts, timelines, and resources to get ready.
What Is WIDA?
WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is an educational services organization housed within the University of Wisconsin–Madison's School of Education. WIDA supports academic language development and achievement for multilingual learners (MLs) through language assessments, research-backed resources, and professional learning used across its member states and territories.
In October 2025, the Board of Regents announced that New York State would join the WIDA Consortium as its 42nd member — connecting New York educators to a national network that includes neighboring states such as New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Note for New York educators: New York will continue to follow its own Academic and Linguistic Demands (ALDs) for instructional planning rather than adopting the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. The change centers on assessment — not on replacing New York's instructional standards.
Why New York Joined
- Online assessment — WIDA ACCESS moves New York from paper-based testing to an online testing platform (WIDA ACCESS Online).
- Support for Students with Disabilities — access WIDA Alternate ACCESS designed specifically for ELLs with significant cognitive disabilities
Timeline at a Glance
|
When |
What Happens |
|---|---|
|
Spring 2026 |
Final administration of the NYSESLAT. |
|
2026–2027 |
Transition period: NYSED provides training and professional learning on WIDA tools and assessments. NYSITELL continues to be used for identification until Fall 2027. |
|
Spring 2027 |
First administration of WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS. |
|
Fall 2027 |
WIDA Screener and Alternate Screener launch, replacing the NYSITELL for identifying English learners. |
L.I. RBERN Resources
Materials developed for Long Island districts as they prepare for the transition:
- WIDA Overview Slides — Click Here
- WIDA Quick Reference Sheet — Click Here
- Navigating the WIDA Website (video) — **Coming Soon
Official State & WIDA Resources
- NYSED — WIDA Consortium Page — webinars, memos, and official updates from the Office of State Assessment
- NYSED — WIDA Consortium Announcement & FAQ
- WIDA — Introduction to WIDA (New York edition)
- WIDA ACCESS Practice & Sample Items — useful for educators without Secure Portal access yet
- WIDA Consortium — State Member Page
Questions?
Contact your L.I. RBERN Instructional Support Specialist for support as your district prepares for the transition to WIDA.