Frequently Asked Questions
This English language arts FAQ page is divided into the following sections:
- Learning Standards/Curriculum/Instruction
- Part 100 Regulations/Other Requirements
- Assessments
- Educator Participation in State Education Department Initiatives/Committees
- Contact Information
Learning Standards/Curriculum/Instruction
Note: All school districts are expected to have their local curriculum aligned to the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy by school year 2012-13. During the 2012-13 school year, student achievement expectations for English Language Arts will be based on the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. The timeline for district implementation is available at http://engageny.org/resource/common-core-implementation-timeline/
What are Learning Standards?
Learning Standards are defined as the knowledge, skills, and understandings that individuals can and do habitually demonstrate over time as a result of skilled instruction and experience. In 1996, the New York State Regents approved 28 learning standards in seven content areas. The English language arts website is www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai; click on the logo of Shakespeare.
Are the NY State English Language Arts Learning Standards under revision at this time?
In January 2011, the Board of Regents adopted the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy, which will be fully implemented in schools by school year 2012-13. To learn more about the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for ELA & Literacy, please visit the SED Common Core website, which includes an overview of the process, a video from Commissioner Steiner, and a toolkit with resources
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/common_core_standards/home.html
Are English language arts learning standards applicable to all content areas?
Reading, writing, listening, and speaking have connections to all content areas. Success in school and in life is determined in large part by competence in language. As a significant means for developing students' abilities to use their minds well, language is a central factor in learning for all students and in all disciplines. Thinking creatively, making informed and reasoned judgments, producing and inventing, critiquing and analyzing - all are facilitated through language. As a lifelong resource, skillful use of language is valued in all areas of our lives in which we participate - as adults, as parents, as workers, and as members of social and civic organizations. In fact, skillful use of language may be the single most important means of realizing the overarching goal of education.
What is the 2005 English Language Arts Core Curriculum?
The English Language Arts Core Curriculum (2005) provides an additional level of grade-level specificity to the ELA learning standards that were approved in 1996. It respects the tradition of local (school/district) choice in New York that empowers educators to select texts, identify products, and use a rich array of instructional strategies and activities to meet student learning needs. Local school districts organize, plan, and align local curriculum around NY State standards and core curriculum and, in so doing, shape and implement their local philosophy. Note: In school year 2012-13, the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy will be the student achievement expectations for English Language Arts in NY State.
What are the Learning Standards for English Language Arts approved in 1996?
For each standard, students will read, write, listen, and speak* for
- Information and Understanding | Standard 1
- Literary Response and Expression | Standard 2
- Critical Analysis and Evaluation | Standard 3
- Social Interaction | Standard 4
*Receptive language skills are listening and reading; expressive language
skills are writing and speaking.
To read the new P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy, which will be fully implemented in schools in 2012-13, please see
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/common_core_standards/
What are key ideas?
Key ideas are the major domains (skills, knowledge, or ideas) that define fields of study or areas of learning. Key ideas define the respective learning standards in specific content areas or fundamental skills. In the English Language Arts Core Curriculum, the four key ideas are reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
What are performance indicators?
Performance indicators are descriptions of required student-achievement expectations or student skills. With the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), NYS has delineated the performance indicators grade-by-grade, prekindergarten through grade 12.
How might ELA standards be used to strengthen local curriculum?
Locally developed programs for raising student achievement and improving professional practice are most effective when they are:
- initiated by those involved in implementation
- developed in a culture of shared inquiry
- focused on a common mission that integrates local priorities with State policies and purposes
Is it local choice for a school/district to instruct in manuscript (print) and/or cursive writing?
Yes, the English Language Arts Core Curriculum (2005), available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/ela/elarg.html, gives guidance regarding handwriting instruction. It states: students will use legible manuscript (print) and/or cursive writing. The instructional approach to teaching handwriting is a local decision.
Are samples of learning experiences (lesson plans) available?
There are thousands of learning experiences/lesson plans - a number of which are available on the Internet. However, not all of them are aligned to NYS learning standards. New York State's Virtual Learning System (VLS) features learning experiences that have been peer-reviewed through the NYS Academy for Teaching and Learning. For samples of learning experiences, please refer to the Virtual Learning System (VLS) at http://www.nysvls.org; click on the folder tab for ELA. Expansion of this collection is a major priority of the Education Department.
What is New York State's Virtual Learning System - VLS?
The purpose of the New York State Education Department's Virtual Learning System is to encourage the use of the Internet as a tool for teaching and learning and to provide help to classroom teachers in locating and using Internet resources for instruction.
VLS presents the definitive set of New York State's learning standards, including the full text of the 28 standards and their respective key ideas and performance indicators, as well as the alternate performance indicators for students with severe disabilities.
VLS offers resources that classroom teachers can use to support
prekindergarten-grade 12 standards-based instruction, such as sample tasks and learning experiences.
Other teaching resources, including those from the State Library, Public
Broadcasting Services, and Archives, are also available.
Virtual Learning System: http://www.nysvls.org
What is the recommended, minimal number of books students should read per year?
The Department provides guidance for educators to encourage student reading for many purposes--enjoyment, instruction, information, etc. The introduction to the 1998 English Language Arts Resource Guide with Core Curriculum (
620.19) and the introduction to the ELA Core Curriculum (May 2005) ( 1005 KB) both include guidance from educators who helped in the development of the New York State English Language Arts Learning Standards. In those documents, it is suggested that students read a minimum of 25 books, or the equivalent, per year, across all content areas (subjects) and standard areas. Since the development of curriculum and selection of materials and textbooks is a matter of local choice in New York State, decisions about the recommended amount of reading are made at the local level.
What is the recommended, minimal amount students should write per year?
The Department provides guidance for educators to encourage student writing for many purposes. The introduction to the 1998 English Language Arts Resource Guide with Core Curriculum ( 620.19) and introduction to the ELA Core Curriculum (May 2005) ( 1005 KB) both include guidance from educators who helped in the development of the learning standards. In those documents, it is suggested that students write at least 1,000 words per month, across all content areas (subjects) and standards. Since the development of curriculum is a matter of local choice in New York State, decisions about the recommended amount of writing are made at the local level.
Does the New York State Education Department have required reading, spelling,
or vocabulary lists?
The Education Department does not have a statewide curriculum. It issues core curriculum outlines that indicate the topics and skills that must be included in relation to the standards for those subjects. The core curriculum outlines afford school/districts autonomy to make local decisions regarding particular materials for (e.g., required books) and the sequencing and pacing of courses.
It is the local school/districts' responsibility to design curriculum which will provide students opportunities to reach New York State learning standards.
For additional information regarding New York State English language arts standards, please refer to the 2005 English Language Arts Core Curriculum.
How can I learn more about education services for students with disabilities?
The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) is the best source of information regarding New York State law, regulation, and policy governing the education of students with disabilities. This information is available at www.vesid.nysed.gov
How can I learn more about education services for English language learners?
The Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies is a resource for information regarding support and technical assistance for Districts, Charter Schools, Non-Public Schools and other organizations (Universities, State Educational Organizations, etc.) in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs for limited English proficient / English language learners (LEP/ELLs), as well as foreign language (FL) students within the State’s P-16 initiative http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/
Part 100 Regulations/Other Requirements
What is contained in the website “Part 100 of the Regulations of The Commissioner of Education”?
The Part 100 Regulations website provides information about general education and graduation requirements in NY State. Links to regulatory language, questions/answers regarding policy, appropriate program offices, resource materials, and "hot topics" are included.
What is AIS - Academic Intervention Services?
AIS is additional instruction intended to assist students who are at risk of not achieving the State learning standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and/or science. For additional information, please refer to www..nysed.gov/part100/pages/topics.html#Academic Intervention Services.
What are New York State's graduation requirements for English?
According to Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner for Education,
to receive a Regents-endorsed diploma, a student must earn four units of credit in English language arts and achieve a score of 65 or above on the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English. Please refer to
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#regentsdiploma
What English language arts tests are given to PreK-12 students in New York State?
Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, under the federally mandated No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), New York State replaced the Grade 4 and 8 testing program with the new grades 3-8 testing program, which measures student attainment of the State ELA Standards. At the high school level, successfully passing the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English is a graduation requirement for earning a Regents diploma.
What are the dates for the Elementary- and Middle-Level ELA State assessments for the Grade 3-8 Testing Program
The New York State Education Department, Office of Standards, Assessment and Reporting, is committed to informing the public of all important State-administered testing dates, including releasing schedules for upcoming testing dates. The schedule for the Grades 3-8 Testing Program can be accessed at
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/apda/schedules/ei-schedule-12rev.html. Information about the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English can be found at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/osa/english/.
What are the New York State approved Alternative Examinations for meeting the requirements for a local or Regents diploma?
The New York State Department of Education Assessment Panel meets periodically to review proposals for alternative assessments to the Regents examinations and to make recommendations to the Commissioner of Education about whether the proposed alternatives should be approved. Several examinations have been approved, and the minimum acceptable scores have been set. A complete listing of all SED-approved alternative assessments may be found at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/osa/pub/altassess.html
What are New York State Alternate assessments?
The New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is a part of the New York State Testing Program. It is a datafolio-style assessment in which students with severe cognitive disabilities demonstrate their performance toward achieving the New York State learning standards. Eligibility for participation in NYSAA is determined by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) according to criteria described in the Administrators' Manual. For additional information, please refer to http://www.p12.nysed.gov/osa/nysaa/
What are Testing Accommodations?
Many students require testing accommodations in order to participate in testing programs. Such accommodations provide students with the ability to demonstrate mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability. For information on testing accommodations for students please see the Office of State Assessment's Testing Accomodations page at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/osa/accommodations/
Educator Participation in State Education Department Initiatives/Committees
How can I participate in the state's English Language Arts program?
The Education Department values teachers' expert opinions in guiding this important work and encourages increased involvement from all parts of the State. SED has recently issued a "Call for Expertise" to solicit teacher interest in state-level work. Your name will be entered into our database maintained by the Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team. After you enter your information, you will be contacted by SED if you are selected to participate in a future curriculum committee.
If you are interested in writing items/test questions for the Regents Comprehensive
Examination in English or participating in the rangefinding, item review,
final eyes, or passage selection for the Grades 3-8 ELA Testing Program,
please visit the following Office of State Assessment website:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/osa/teacher/
Is the "Call for Expertise" available in all content areas?
Yes, the "Call for Expertise" has been solicited by all content areas and is accessed from a number of sites. However, regardless of where the "Call for Expertise" is completed, the information is registered in a central database for use by all offices in SED.
Contact Information
Who can I contact for more information about English language arts at SED?
Please contact:
Erik Sweet, Associate in English Language Arts esweet@mail.nysed.gov or (518) 474-5922 or
Wendy Dury-Samson, Assistant in English Language Arts wdurysam@mail.nysed.gov at or 518-474-5922