• New York will begin administering WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS in the 2026-2027 school year.
  • The New York State Department of Education has released testing dates for the 2026-2027 school year. The WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS test window will be Monday, February 1 through Friday, April 9, 2027.
  • Visit the ACCESS Test Practice and Sample Items page to review sample items for WIDA ACCESS Paper, WIDA ACCESS Braille, and online test demos and interactive sample items for WIDA ACCESS Online.
  • Explore the Alternate ACCESS Sample Items page to get familiar with the test format and item types included on WIDA’s summative assessment for English learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
• In September 2026, New York educators will begin receiving access to WIDA professional learning workshops in the WIDA Secure Portal.
• In the 2027-2028 school year, New York will begin using WIDA Screener for grades K-12. (A specific start date is to be determined.)
• New York will not be adopting the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. New York educators should continue to follow the guidance of the New York State Academic and Linguistic Demands (ALDs). The ALDs remain the foundation for instructional planning and alignment with New York’s content standards.

Starting in October!

All zoom sessions are from 12 pm – 2:30 pm.

Module 1 | Thur. Oct. 11, 2026

March Updates

March 3, 2026

May Updates

May 13, 2026