March 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings! As we celebrate Women's History Month and pay tribute to influential women in our communities, it is with great pleasure that we acknowledge Regent Judith Chin. At its March 2024 meeting, the Board of Regents unanimously elected Regent Judith Chin to serve as Vice Chancellor. Regent Chin has been instrumental in the Board’s work on critical issues including ensuring equity for all of our students, implementing high-quality learning standards that will improve the teaching and learning that takes place in New York’s classrooms, and offering students multiple, rigorous pathways to earn a meaningful high school diploma as the Regents and New York State Education Department (NYSED), along with educational stakeholders, work to implement the Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission findings.

Commissioner Betty A. Rosa

In addition, Regents Christine Cea, Wade Norwood, and James Cottrell were re-elected to the Board of Regents this month. We are also pleased to welcome three new members of the Board of Regents: Hasoni Pratts of Brooklyn, Seema Rivera of Albany County, and Patrick Mannion of Onondaga County, who will represent New York State’s second, third, and fifth Judicial Districts, respectively.

Regent Christine Cea

Regent Wade Norwood

Regent James Cottrell

Newly elected members of the Board of Regents: Seema Rivera of Albany County,

Patrick Mannion of Onondaga County, and Hasoni Pratts of Brooklyn

Please join me in congratulating Vice Chancellor-Elect Chin, as well as the re-elected and newly elected members of the Board of Regents!

Sincerely,

Betty A. Rosa

Commissioner

NYSED is commemorating Women’s History Month through a series of special programs, events, educational resources, and exhibits to honor and celebrate the diverse achievements of women, both past and present. From engaging in-person experiences to helpful online resources, the public is invited to learn about the pivotal role women have played in shaping our State heritage. Learn more about these significant contributions by exploring the educational resources and programs available from the State Museum, the State Library, the State Archives, and PBS Learning Media.

My History My Future

NYSED and the Education Trust—New York are highlighting students’ reflections on the impacts of history and its relevance to their generation. Through the #MyHistoryMyFuture social media campaign, we aim to amplify the voices of young people. We encourage students to not only reflect on the past but to be proud of where they come from and take action to make their schools, communities, and the world a better place for future generations. 

This month, we invite students to participate in the #MyHistoryMyFuture social media campaign using the State Museum's rich resources to reflect on Women's History Month. Here are some ideas:

• Celebrate Women's History Month in the classroom using this educator guide! Help students learn about the New York State women’s rights movement and empower them to use their voices to advocate for their own causes. Then, invite students to share their reflections on social media using the hashtag #MyHistoryMyFuture.
• Take the virtual gallery tour of the State Museum’s “Votes for Women” exhibition and consider how the women’s suffrage movement contributed to today's equal rights advocacy. Then, invite students to share their reflections on social media using the hashtag #MyHistoryMyFuture.
• Explore the many additional Women's History Month resources from the State Museum and learn about the important role women have played in New York State History. Then, invite students to share their reflections on social media using the hashtag #MyHistoryMyFuture.

Beginning on April 8, 2024, the Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Tests and Grades 5 & 8 Science Tests will be administered to students across New York State. These annual tests for students in grades 3-8 are required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction and are a valuable tool used to help ensure students have the support needed to succeed. The tests can also help identify any learning needs a student may have. The annual tests are one measure used to assess student learning and is one tool of many used by educators to ensure students are getting the services and supports they need to prepare for career, college, and civic readiness. 

NYSED will continue our statewide implementation of computer-based testing (CBT) for the Grades 3–8 ELA, Math, and Science Tests this year. In Spring 2024, all students in grades 5 and 8 will take the ELA, math, and science tests via CBT. Other grade levels may also participate in CBT, but paper-based testing will still be available. The CBT transition will continue in 2025 and 2026, with two grades being added each year until all grades 3-8 tests are administered by computer in 2026. The Question Sampler is available publicly online and offers an opportunity for students, parents, guardians, and educators to become familiar with CBT.  

In late spring, NYSED will provide school principals and teachers with instructional reports showing how students in their classroom performed on each question on the test. We will also release at least 75% of the questions that count toward students’ scores. As soon as they are available, Score Reports will be provided to schools to be shared with parents. These reports will feature information about what students should know and be able to do for their grade level and will show how each child scored in specific skill and concept areas. Following a comprehensive data quality control check, the Department will release the aggregate data for the 2024 Grades 3-8 Math and ELA exams. While the 2023 ELA and Math test scores were not able to be compared to previous years because they were the first exams based on the Next Generation Learning Standards, the 2024 tests will be comparable to 2023. The science tests are being administered for the first time in 2024 and will be comparable to future years’ results.

NYSED strongly believes that no single test score, on its own, can fully or accurately depict what a student knows and can do. To best support students, we must first collect information about where they are in terms of learning. This information should come from multiple sources, including teacher interactions, classroom assessment, state-level assessments, and other measures. 

An FAQ about New York’s Annual Grades 3-8 Exams is available on the Department’s State Assessment website.

New York Statewide Language Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network

The New York Statewide Language Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (NYS RBERN) promotes best practices by conducting school visits and coaching administrators/teachers to identify the strengths and needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). This work includes training new administrators, providing information about Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)/immigration/newcomers, supporting recent refugee populations, promoting the Multilingual SIFE Screener (MLS) as a tool to assess home language, and providing professional development in Home Language Arts. NYS RBERN Resource Specialists turnkey professional development sessions conducted by experts to build capacity in the field.

NYS RBERN also partners with experts in the field to deliver other professional learning series that address a wide array of academic skills, including Advanced Literacies. Please visit the NYS RBERN’s events for educators web page to learn about and register for upcoming opportunities.

NYS Seal of Biliteracy Professional Learning Series

In 2023-24, the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages began the first-ever professional learning webinar series for the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB). These webinars are offered free of charge for educators, counselors, and administrators working and studying in New York State educational institutions. All NYSSB webinars take place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Registration is required for attendance and CTLE certificates. All webinars are recorded for on-demand viewing, and CTLE credit can be granted for viewing the webinar with a score of at least 7 out of 10 on the post-assessment.

Please visit NYSED's New York State Seal of Biliteracy web page to register for future webinars or to view recordings of previous webinars.

NYSED is hosting a FREE, two-day, in-person school safety summit on April 17-18 at New York’s Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY. 

The summit will provide training, information, and resources on topics related to Emergency Response Plan development and implementation, and sessions designed to help create safe and supportive learning environments for the whole school community.  

Many New York-based technical assistance centers will be highlighted to connect participants with high-quality resources available to support school personnel in fostering safe schools.

School, district, and BOCES personnel involved in the development and implementation of school and district safety plans, including superintendents, principals, district chief emergency officers, and other key K-12 safety team staff are invited to attend. 

Capacity is limited. Attendance on both days is required. Register for the summit here.

Questions may be directed to SafetyPlans@nysed.gov.

April has once again been designated the Month of the Military Child – also known as Purple Up! For Military Kids. Across the nation, states and school districts will celebrate the important role of military families through special events and by wearing the color purple.

Please visit our Month of the Military Child web page to learn more and to get some great ideas for celebrating these special children.

Additional information about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is available on our Interstate Compact web page.

NYSED recently announced that it has nominated the Garrison School for recognition as a nominee for the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. The Garrison School was selected for its numerous initiatives to provide all students with an interactive, clean, and sustainable environment. The school serves students in grades PreK-8 in the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County, New York.

The New York State Library announced its programming for March, including webinars and events related to history and genealogical services. The free programming requires registration and is available in person or offered online.

Visit the State Library's website for a complete list of upcoming programs. Additional programs will be added to the website as they are confirmed.