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What's changing in New York schools

New York is changing several things at once: tests, diplomas, what students learn and school rules. Each change on this page has a plain explanation, the official date and a made-up example.

General information as of November 8, 2026. “Decided” means adopted or in law. “Proposed” means not final yet. NYSED, your school and your district are the official word.

Timeline

202420252026202720282029 Sept 2024CS standards Fall 2025phone-free Mar 25, 2026finance+climate Sept 14, 2026one-diploma plan Nov 17, 2026reporter training Feb-Apr 2027WIDA ACCESS June 2027 lastold Chem/Phys Class of 2028one diploma (proposed) Fall 2027WIDA Screener
Swipe the timeline sideways. In 10 seconds: green = decided, pink = proposed. Most changes reach families between 2025 and 2029.

What changes for my child?

Assumes one grade per year. Nothing is sent or saved.

Every change, explained

1 · The yearly English test: NYSESLAT → WIDA ACCESS Decided

The last NYSESLAT was in spring 2026. English language learners take WIDA ACCESS for the first time in spring 2027 (testing window February 1 - April 9, 2027). NYSED says teaching for ELLs is not changing, only the test. How students exit ELL status with WIDA ACCESS scores has not been published yet.

Example with made-up details

A grade 5 ELL took the NYSESLAT in spring 2026. In March 2027 the same student takes WIDA ACCESS on a computer: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The report shows levels from 1 to 6, like 3.4 (level 3, almost halfway to 4).

Full guide: WIDA explained.

2 · The test for new students: NYSITELL → WIDA Screener Decided

The NYSITELL continues until the WIDA Screener replaces it in fall 2027. The Screener is for newly enrolled students who may be English language learners and can be given any time of the year.

Example with made-up details

A family moves to New York in March 2027: the new student may take the NYSITELL. A family that moves in October 2027: the new student takes the WIDA Screener.

3 · English proficiency and school accountability Decided

The U.S. Department of Education approved (announced September 25, 2026) leaving the English language proficiency indicator out of school accountability decisions based on 2026-27 results, while NYSED does the technical work for the move to WIDA. Results are still reported. NYSED plans to bring it back for 2028-29 decisions based on 2027-28 results.

4 · NY Inspires: one diploma, Regents exams stay Proposed

On September 14, 2026, NYSED announced that the Board of Regents authorized it to move forward with:

Earlier, on June 15, 2026, NYSED announced a plan to move toward a competency-based system, where graduation requirements move away from time-based measures toward demonstrated readiness.

Example with made-up details
Grade 11 in 2026-27 → grade 12 in 2027-28 → graduates June 2028 → First class in the proposed one-diploma plan

This student still takes every scheduled Regents exam. If the rules are adopted as planned, passing a set list of Regents exams would no longer be a separate diploma requirement. Until the Board adopts the rules, plan for today's rules.

Details by class year: Regents exams and graduation.

5 · New science Regents exams Decided

New examFirst givenOlder exam it replacesOlder exam last given
Life Science: BiologyJune 2025Living EnvironmentJune 2026
Earth and Space SciencesJune 2025Physical Setting/Earth ScienceJune 2026
Physical Science: ChemistryJune 2026Physical Setting/ChemistryJune 2027
Physical Science: PhysicsJune 2026Physical Setting/PhysicsJune 2027
Example with made-up details

A grade 11 student in an older-style chemistry course in 2026-27 can take the older Physical Setting/Chemistry exam in January or June 2027. June 2027 is its last time. A student in the new course takes Physical Science: Chemistry.

6 · Personal finance education, K-12 Decided

The Board of Regents adopted a rule (effective March 25, 2026) that every public school student gets personal finance instruction by the end of grade 4, by the end of grade 8, and by the end of grade 12.

Example with made-up numbers

Starting in the 2026-27 school year, schools must teach personal finance by the end of grade 8. A simple lesson could look like this:

Save $5 a week for 36 school weeks 5 × 36 = $180 saved by June

Practice free: Money Skills, grades 7-8 · Personal Finance, high school.

7 · Climate education, K-12 Decided

The same rule adds climate education by the end of grades 4, 8 and 12.

Example with made-up details
Grade 2 in 2026-27 → grade 3 in 2027-28 → grade 4 in 2028-29 → climate education required by the end of grade 4 (June 2029)

8 · Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards Decided

NYSED's timeline says these standards reached full implementation in September 2024 in all grade bands K-12.

Example with made-up details

A grade 6 class makes a simple step-by-step plan (an algorithm) for a morning routine, then tests and fixes it. That is computational thinking. Try CS Principles or Robotics and coding.

9 · Phone-free schools (“bell to bell”) Decided

Example with made-up details

A grade 7 student's phone stays in a locker all day. A parent needs to share a schedule change at noon: the parent calls the main office, which is the contact method in that school's policy. A classmate with diabetes uses a phone app for glucose readings: that is a permitted medical exception.

10 · Mandated reporter training update (for school staff) Decided

Under the amended Social Services Law §413, all educators and school staff who are mandated reporters must complete NYSED's Second Updated child abuse identification and reporting workshop by November 17, 2026, even if they took the training before.

Example with made-up details

A teacher certified in 2015 took the original workshop then. She still needs the Second Updated workshop by November 17, 2026.

11 · Seal of Civic Readiness Decided

Students can earn this diploma seal with 6 points: at least 2 in Civic Knowledge and 2 in Civic Participation. Under NY Inspires, seals and endorsements are planned to keep recognizing achievement.

Example with made-up numbers
Civic Knowledge: mastery-level social studies Regents score 1.5 + 4 social studies credits 1 = 2.5 Civic Participation: High School Civics Project 1.5 + service-learning project (25+ hours) 1 = 2.5 Middle school capstone (grade 7 or 8) = 1 Total: 2.5 + 2.5 + 1 = 6 points ✓ (at least 2 in each part ✓)

More honors and seals: Honors and advanced paths.

Questions people ask

Which of these are final?

WIDA testing, the science Regents schedule, personal finance and climate education, the computer science standards, phone-free schools and the mandated reporter deadline are decided. The one-diploma plan is proposed until the Board of Regents adopts regulations.

Where do I see my school's phone policy?

The law requires schools to post it on their website, and to make it available in the 12 most common non-English languages on request.

How will we hear about new changes?

Check this page, NYSED's news page and your district's messages. We update this page when NYSED publishes changes.

Official sources

If a link and this page ever disagree, the official page wins.