Extension of the End Date for the COVID-19 Related Special Administration of the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL)

Due to the extraordinary challenges associated with the reopening of schools this September, brought about by the ongoing pandemic, it is anticipated that some New York State schools may have difficulty completing the special administrations of the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) to all eligible students by the previously established deadline of September 30, 2021. In response to this concern, NYSED is extending the end date for the special administration of the NYSITELL to October 29, 2021.

This one-time special administration of the NYSITELL was announced in May 2021 to address the adverse impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented some English Language Learners (ELLs) and provisionally-identified ELLs from being able to participate in the Spring 2021 New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT). Schools must ensure that they are providing appropriate levels of ELL instruction and services as required by Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154-2.

As explained in our May 2021 announcement, the special administration of the NYSITELL is available for those ELLs who received entirely remote instruction during the Spring 2021 NYSESLAT administration period and did not participate in the 2021 NYSESLAT. The special administration of the NYSITELL is not permitted for any ELLs who completed the Spring 2021 NYSESLAT.

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For questions about student eligibility or any other aspect of the special administration of the NYSITELL, please contact the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages at obewl@nysed.gov.