Next Generation Learning Standards

After years of controversy surrounding the roll out of the Common Core Learning Standards, the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) has announced newly revised learning standards that provide a consistent set of expectations for all students, so educators can ensure every student is on track for college and career readiness.

The Next Generation Learning Standards (NGLS) are the result of more than two years of collaborative work to ensure New York State has the best learning standards for its students. More than 130 educators and parents worked together to make recommendations and revise the standards, resulting in a new set of revised English Language Arts and Mathematics Learning Standards.

NYSED formed two Standards Review Committees, one each for math and English language arts (ELA), by recruiting educators, parents, community-based organizations, business leaders and members of higher education. The committees were charged with drafting revised standards, which were posted online for public comment and presented to the Board of Regents by November.

The changes come following administration of an online survey (AIMHighNY) by NYSED between mid-October and late November 2015, which was completed by more than 15,000 respondents. Of those who responded, 71 percent were supportive of the standards while 29 percent were critical and focused mostly on the early grades for both ELA and math. Feedback included recommendations and comments about the standards, including specific changes to wording and revisions and/or movement of standards to another grade level.

Respondents included:

  • Teachers (48.9 percent)
  • Parents (32.8 percent)
  • Administrators (5.1 percent)
  • Others (13.2 percent).

After the survey closed, advisory panels composed of teachers, administrators and college professors analyzed the data, identified trends and made initial recommendations for possible revisions and guidance.

For more information, visit Next Generation Learning Standards.

 

New York State Next Generation Learning Standards 

The Board of Regents adopted the newly revised English Language Arts and Mathematics Learning Standards on September 11, 2017. The new standards have resulted from over two years of collaborative work to ensure New York State has the best learning standards for our students. Over 130 educators and parents worked together to make recommendations and revise the standards, resulting in a new set of revised English Language Arts and Mathematics Learning Standards. Additional information about the timeline for implementation in schools is available from Standards and Assessment Implementation Timeline.

Video for Parents and Families about the Common Core Assessments from EngageNY on Vimeo.

State Assessments

Students were assessed on the new standards for the first time when they took the state ELA and Math tests in the spring of 2013. The results from these new assessments gave educators, parents, policymakers, and the public a more realistic picture of where students were on their path to being well-prepared for the world that awaits them after they graduate from high school.

Test results serve as an ‘academic checkup’ to make sure each student is on track for the next grade level and measure progress over time the student’s year-to-year performance. The results provide a deeper level of information by pinpointing what skills each student has mastered and what skills are still developing.

Test Facts

  • The federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 requires that students in grades 3-8 are tested once a year in ELA and Math.
  • State law regulations of the Commissioner of Education prohibit school districts from making promotion or placement decisions based solely or primarily on student performance on the tests.
  • Scores are not currently used to evaluate teachers in an official way.

Test Changes

  • The State Education Department made several changes to the annual Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests in response to concerns from parents and educators.
  • The 2018 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests have been reduced from three test sessions per subject to only two sessions per subject this year, meaning each subject will have two days of testing instead of three.
  • The 2018 tests will continue to be untimed so students who need additional time to work can have it, within confines of the regular school day.
  • With fewer test sessions, each test will have substantially fewer questions than in recent years, lessening test fatigue for students and better enabling them to demonstrate what they know and are able to do.

Resources for Parents: