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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 _______________________________________________________________________________________ |
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James A. Kadamus, Deputy Commissioner Office for Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education Room 875 EBA Albany, New York 12234 Phone: (518) 474-5915 Fax: (518-486-2233 |
| January 26, 2005 | ||
| To: |
District Superintendents of Schools Superintendents of Public Schools Administrators of Nonpublic and Charter Schools |
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| From: | James A. Kadamus | |
| Subject: | The Impact of Inclement Weather on State Examinations | |
We have learned that many schools in one region of the State were closed today due to inclement weather and, as a result, were unable to administer Regents examinations and Regents Competency Tests. As I said in my recent memo to you, the Department does not have the capacity to offer added testing opportunities prior to the June 2005 Regents examination period except for the May 2005 Component Retests.
Although the Department views the January Regents examination period as primarily a makeup testing opportunity for students, we will be making an accommodation specifically for high school seniors who took Session One of the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English on Tuesday, January 25, 2005, but who were unable to take Session Two due to a weather-related cancellation of the exam.
Such students cannot be given an official examination score for the January administration. However, those students’ Session One answer papers must be scored and can be used in determining the student’s eligibility for the May 2005 Component Retest in Comprehensive English. This partial January administration may be counted as one of the two administrations of the test in which a senior must have participated in order to be eligible for Component Retesting.
Specific eligibility rules and detailed instructions for this situation will be provided to all schools in the near future. In addition to component retesting, students also have the opportunity to take any canceled or missed examination(s) during the next Regents examination period.
Please note that this allowance is not available to students who were unable to take Session Two for any reason other than weather-related cancellation. If you have questions on this or any other testing issue, you may send them to emscassessinfo@mail.nysed.gov.