Guidance and Notes for Schools on the 2025-26 MCAS and WIDA ACCESS Testing Schedule

• 2025-26 Statewide Testing Schedule and Administration Deadlines — September 8, 2025

Guidance on Test Dates and Holiday Observances

Principals should be aware that state and federal laws require schools to make reasonable accommodations for the religious needs of students and employees in observance of holy days as directed by this guidance. Students who are absent from school in observance of a holiday may participate in a make-up session as soon as possible after the regularly administered session. Schools may contact DESE's Office of Student Assessment Services with questions.

Schools should be mindful of holiday observances that occur during the spring testing windows so they can support students and their families.

• Passover will begin at sundown on April 1 and lasts eight days. People who observe the holiday may be absent on the first two and last two days (during the ELA testing windows).
• Good Friday occurs on April 3, which falls during the grades 3–8 ELA testing window. Orthodox Good Friday occurs on April 10. Easter Monday occurs on April 6, and Orthodox Easter Monday occurs on April 13.

Notes for High Schools

• The November retests are being administered during a window that includes Veterans Day on November 11, but no testing may occur on that date. The first session of the Mathematics retest may not be administered before November 12, and no ELA make-up testing may be done on November 11.
• Beginning this school year, the March retests will no longer be administered. Schools should refer to the high school participation guidelines for the other high school administrations.
• High school tests will be conducted within allowable windows. DESE has provided recommended dates instead of prescribed dates.

Notes for WIDA ACCESS testing

• Test materials are scheduled to arrive on January 5–6. Since paper materials arrive via ground transportation, please keep in mind that delays are possible in the winter months. Consider scheduling students taking paper tests beginning January 7 or later. Online testing may begin on January 5.

Next Steps

DESE will hold a window in the fall for schools to request a waiver from the computer-based testing expectation (e.g., technology constraints that make computer-based testing unfeasible); as in the past, schools can assign a paper-based test to students using that accommodation on a case-by-case basis (not through this waiver process).

Schools that previously scheduled activities and now find a conflict with testing dates should contact the Office of Student Assessment Services .

Thank you.

Last Updated: October 6, 2025