Hudson Valley RBERN Update

HV RBERN Professional Learning Opportunities

Please note: Revisions have been made to the "Looking Beyond Language..." workshops at PNW and Sullivan BOCES.

• 10/1/26 Strategies for Instruction and Assessment of ELLs - at Orange-Ulster BOCES

• 10/6/26, 1/26/27, 3/16/27 A Dynamic Duo: Teachers & School Librarians - Series of 3 Sessions - at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES

• 10/6/26 Looking Beyond Language Difference and Disability: Pre-Referral Considerations for Multilingual Learners - at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES

• 10/7/26 Introduction to the Multilingual Literacy SIFE (MLS) Screener - via Zoom

• 10/13/26, 1/14/27, 3/9/27 A Dynamic Duo: Teachers & School Librarians - Series of 3 Sessions - for Ulster, Dutchess & Sullivan BOCES - at SENYLRC, Highland & Ulster BOCES

• 10/14/26 Multilingual Literacy SIFE (MLS) Screener Student Performance Report Training - via Zoom

• 10/27/2026 Looking Beyond Language Difference and Disability: Pre-Referral Considerations for Multilingual Learners - at Sullivan BOCES

• 11/13/26 Looking Beyond Language Difference and Disability: Pre-Referral Considerations for Multilingual Learners - at Orange-Ulster BOCES

• 11/17/26, 1/7/27, 3/11/27 A Dynamic Duo: Teachers & School Librarians - Series of 3 Sessions - at Orange-Ulster BOCES

Resources

New York State Education Department

2026 NYSESLAT Conversion Charts Now Available

The New York State Education Department has released the 2026 NYSESLAT Conversion Charts and guidance for determining English language proficiency levels from the final administration of the NYSESLAT. Districts are encouraged to review the memorandum and accompanying attachment below as they prepare to interpret Spring 2026 student results and plan for the upcoming transition to WIDA ACCESS. Rules on exit criteria can be found in the SIRS Manual.

• 2026 NYSESLAT—Determining an English Language Learner’s (ELL) English Language Proficiency Level

WIDA Assessments

WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual   

Find all the available accessibility supports and accommodations for WIDA Screener and WIDA ACCESS in the WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Manual. Decision-making teams should use the manual, along with state-specific policies, to determine what accommodations are appropriate for each student.  

In case you missed it: There are new accessibility features and accommodations for WIDA Screener Online and WIDA ACCESS Online in the 2026-2027 school year. Learn about these changes in their news article that covers why they made these updates and how they impact the testing experience.  

WIDA Accommodations Checklist    

Keep track of which accommodations a student needs to use on WIDA Screener and WIDA ACCESS assessments by filling out the relevant, test-specific WIDA Accommodations Checklist. 

ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS? (Webinar recording)    

Learn about the decision-making process for choosing whether an English learner should take WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS in the ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS? WIDA Webinar recording.  

Bonus! Supporting Multilingual Learners with Disabilities Webpage    

Looking for general info on teaching multilingual learners with disabilities? Check out the Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities webpage that houses videos, tools, handouts and other resources.

If you have questions, contact the WIDA Client Services Center at help@wida.wisc.edu. 

Career Opportunities

Ossining UFSD

• ENL Teacher - Ossining High School

• Elementary Dual Language Teacher - Claremont School

Please contact the HV RBERN for support or with any questions you may have.