91¾«Ñ¡

WIDA

WIDA ACCESS serves as the State’s annual English language proficiency assessments. These assessments meet state and federal requirements for measuring and monitoring the English language proficiency of English Language Learners (ELLs) in Grades K–12. As prescribed in Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154-2 and 154-3, the assessment results will provide information for the State and schools about ELLs’ English language development and be used to determine the levels of service ELLs will receive in Bilingual Education and English as a New Language programs. 91¾«Ñ¡ State will transition to the WIDA Screener assessments as part of the ELL identification process beginning in the 2027–2028 school year.

91¾«Ñ¡ State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL)

91¾«Ñ¡ State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) serves as the State’s formal English language proficiency assessment in the process for initially identifying English Language Learners in 91¾«Ñ¡ State. All public and charter schools must follow the steps outlined in the initial and reentry processes prescribed by Commissioner’s Regulations (CR) Part 154-2.3 (d), which includes administering the Home Language Questionnaire (HLQ) and conducting an individual interview with students who have indicated on the HLQ that a language other than English is spoken at home. Information gathered from the HLQ and the individual interview should be assessed carefully to determine if the student is required to take the NYSITELL. Further guidance regarding the identification of ELLs can be found on 91¾«Ñ¡'s Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) website.

The NYSITELL will continue to be offered until it is replaced by the WIDA Screener and the WIDA Alternate Screener in Fall 2027.