THE NEW YORK STATE GRADES 38 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS TESTING PROGRAM: AN INTRODUCTION

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A Education Coverage Education Reporters
Editors Howard Goldsmith, Coordinator for
Operations Office of State Assessment Anne
Schiano, Assistant Director Office of Curriculum,
Instruction, and Instructional Technology
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English Language Arts and Mathematics NYS
Testing Program (Grades 3-8)
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OVERVIEW

• Why test in grades 3 through 8 every year?
• What are we testing?
• What will these tests look like?
• How will these tests be scored?
• How will test results be used?
• Information to help schools prepare.

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Why Test in Grades 3 Through 8?

• Presents unique opportunity to
• Evaluate the implementation of the learning
  standards annually
• Measure student progress
• Gather information about student readiness for
  study at the next level
• Mandated by federal government (NCLB)

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No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

• Specifies that statewide tests must
• Develop and assess ELA Mathematics Content
  Standards Grades 3-8
• Address the depth and breadth of the state
  content standards
• Be valid, reliable, and of high technical quality
• Be designed to provide a coherent system across
  grades and subjects

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II. What are we testing?

• NYS Learning Standards
• Mathematics
• English Language Arts

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English Language Artswww.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/ela
www.emsc.nysed.gov\3-8\home
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NYS Education DepartmentELA Core Committee

• Established by the Office of Curriculum
  Instructional Support
• to develop grade by grade Pre-K - 12
  performance indicators for ELA with an explicit
  literacy strand consistent with Reading First
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/e-home

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NYS Education DepartmentELA Core Curriculum

• Outline of what students should know and be able
  to do as a result of skilled instruction in each
  of grades Pre K commencement level
• Respects tradition of local choice in NYS

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ELA Core Curriculum

• Four ELA Learning Standards
• (Regents Adopted 1996)
• Students will read, write, listen and speak for
• Information and understanding
• Literary response and expression
• Critical analysis and evaluation
• Social interaction

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Mathematicswww.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/math
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Board of Regents Adopts NYS Learning Standard
inMathematics

• On January 11, 2005 the Board of Regents adopted
  the Mathematics Learning Standard 3 and
  performance indicators for grades prekindergarten
  through 8
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/m-home

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• Board of Regents Adopts
• NYS Learning Standard in
• Mathematics

On March 15, 2005 the Board of Regents adopted
the performance indicators for Algebra, Geometry,
and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, along with the
alignment modification to pre-kindergarten
through grade 8. Http//www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/m-
home.htm
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Mathematics, Science, and Technology Standard 3
Mathematics
Students will understand the concepts of
and become proficient with the skills of
mathematics communicate and reason
mathematically become problem solvers by using
appropriate tools and strategies   through the
integrated study of number sense and operations,
algebra, geometry, measurement, and statistics
and probability.
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NYS Education DepartmentMathematics Core
Curriculum

• Outline of what students should know and be able
  to do as a result of skilled instruction in each
  of grades Pre K commencement level
• Respects tradition of local choice in NYS

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NYSED Partners

• Independent Panel on Math A
• Mathematics Standards Committee
• Mathematics Advisory Group
• Mathematics Curriculum Committee
• Statewide Professional Associations
• Big 5 Mathematics Leaders

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III. What Will These Tests Look Like?

• The NYS tests are designed to measure student
  achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and
  mathematics in grades 3 through 8.
• The tests reflect New York State content/process
  standards in each grade and subject area.
• Signal priority content
• Are instructionally sensitive
• For ELA independent writing prompts have been
  removed editing paragraph has been added.
• Tests in both subjects will be similar in format
  to existing Grade 4 and 8 assessments.

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Administration of Tests

• Grades 3-8 ELA Jan/Feb
• Grades 3-8 Math March

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Testing Times for ELA Mathematics
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Testing Times for ELA Mathematics
Sessions 1 and 2 will be given on one day
both ELA and math.
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IV. How Will These Tests be Scored?

• A number of scoring models are being considered
  For year 1, districts will have to hand-score
• Regional Scorer Training September-November
• We are working to design an Electronic
  Distributive Scoring System, but that will take 2
  years

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V. How Will Test Results be Used?

• Achievement in relation to the standard(s)
• Accountability

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Achievement in Relation to the Standard(s)

• Annual feedback to schools
• Standardized statewide reports
• Tracking student progress

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Accountability

• Federal and State reporting
• Annual measurable objectives will be revised
• Discussions ongoing with USDOE regarding
  transition process

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VI. Information to Help Schools Prepare

• Professional Development
• Curriculum Guidance Materials
• Education Department Websites
• Key Contacts

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Professional Development

• Regional Forums
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/foruminfo
• Statewide Roll-out Mathematics
• Phase I December-March
• Phase II April-July
• Phase III Fall 2005
• Online resources

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Curriculum Guidance Materials

• ELA Toolkit
• Resources will include but are not limited to
• Glossary (for teachers)
• Sample tasks
• Instructional strategies
• Literature suggestions by grade level
• Lesson plans on NYSED Virtual Learning System

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Mathematics Toolkit
Curriculum Guidance Materials

• Mathematics Toolkit
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/guidance

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NYSED Websites

• Latest News on Grade 3-8 Testing
• www.emsc.nysed.gov./3-8/home.html
• NYSED ELA Home Page
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/ela
• NYSED Mathematics Home Page
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/math

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KEY CONTACTS

• Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and
  Instructional Technology Website
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai
• Curriculum Questions can be sent to
  emsccurric_at_mail.nysed.gov
• Office of State Assessment
• www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/
• Testing Questions can be sent to
• emscassessinfo_at_mail.nysed.gov