New York State Learning Standards Review Initiative
In 2007, Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2007 requested the State Education Department to establish a timeline and process to review and evaluate the New York State Learning Standards which were approved in 1996, beginning with English language arts. Over the past two years, the Standards Review Initiative English Language Arts Panel has reviewed and completed revisions to the ELA Standards under the direction of Regent Saul Cohen, Standards Review Coordinator Walter Sullivan, members of the Steering Committee, ELA Co-chairs Dr. Bonne August and John Harmon, and ESL Co-chair Estee Lopez.
In December 2009, the Board of Regents approved a review and adoption timeline (http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2010Meetings/
April2010/0410swd1a.htm ) for Common Core State Standards that involved the development of recommended additional standards in ELA and Mathematics. At this time, the New York State Standards Review Initiative is on pause as New York becomes involved in the development of Common Core State Standards, a multi-state initiative organized by the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers. The working principles of the Standards Review Initiative and the draft 2009 ELA/ESL Learning Standards will serve as resources as educators review the draft Common Core ELA Standards.
Since spring 2009, New York State has been involved in the development of Common Core State Standards (http://www.corestandards.org) for English Language Arts and Mathematics. In July 2010, the Board of Regents is scheduled to act on a decision regarding the adoption of Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. In the summer of 2010, two educator committees will convene to review the Common Core State Standards and make recommendations for additional standards (up to 15%, as necessary). These recommendations will be shared with the Board of Regents in the fall and then shared with the public for feedback. After a period of public feedback, the Board of Regents will act on the recommended standards in the late fall.
To learn more about how New York is involved in the Common Core State Standards, please see the SED Common Core State Standards Initiative website, which includes an overview of the initiative, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, a video of Commissioner Steiner explaining why New York is involved, and a toolkit with a space for public feedback: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/common_core_standards/home.html
The materials listed below were developed over the past two years as a result of the work of the Standards Review Panel and leadership. These materials and research will serve as resources as educators review the draft Common Core Standards.
Information from the Standards Review Initiative ELA/ESL Panel (Developed from 2007-December 2009) Committee Membership
Reports
- ELA/ESL Panel Report to the Regents Steering Committee—July 2008 Word | HTML
- Summary Report for the Standards Review Initiative Public Forums—May 2008
Word|HTML
Working Principles
Board of Regents items
- Report to the Board of Regents on New York State Learning Standards Review Structure—2008 Word | HTML
Memos
- Field Memo from Chancellor Bennett on six public forums—2008 - Word | HTML
- Notice of Public Forums on the New York State Learning Standards Initiative—2008 PDF | HTML