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Summer Newsletter
July 2024
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The Office of Standards and Instructional Programs newsletter describes the current and upcoming activities related to P-12 learning standards, instruction, educational technology, and educational programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This newsletter and a subscription link are available online on the Office of Standards & Instruction website. | |
Literacy Support
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) began the 2023-2024 school year with a reaffirmed commitment to fostering a culture of educational excellence across the state—with a spotlight on reading and writing. In January, the Department released a series of literacy briefs that focus on the science of reading. The briefs, produced by Dr. Nonie K. Lesaux, Professor of Education and Human Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Katie C. Carr, M.Ed., may be used to strengthen knowledge of evidence-based literacy practices in PK-12 education. The release of the briefs included a statewide literacy conference where educators from across the state came together to focus on research-based practices and the science of reading to support students’ learning and development.
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As a next step in the Department’s Literacy Initiative, on June 5, 2024, NYSED hosted a webinar on the release of its K-3 Literacy Curriculum Review Guide to support districts in selecting and developing high-quality literacy curricular materials for grades K-3. In New York State (NYS), all curriculum decisions are made at the local level. The Literacy Curriculum Review Guide, developed in collaboration with stakeholders, provides high-level guidance, in the form of guiding questions, criteria, and indicators. The guide will assist districts in choosing or revising K-3 curricular materials to better ensure alignment with evidence-based practices, the NYS Learning Standards, the NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework, and the NYS Social-Emotional Learning Benchmarks.
Summer can be a time of reflection and a break from the busy academic year. It also provides an opportune time for school district teams to review their curricular materials to prepare for the beginning of the school year. Districts are urged to use a tool such as the Literacy Curriculum Review Guide to evaluate their literacy curricular materials, facilitate discussion using the guiding questions, and identify aspects of the curriculum/curricular materials that need to be revised, supplemented, and/or repurposed to meet expectations.
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Expanded Mathematics Access Program (EMAP)
NYSED’s Expanded Math Access Program (EMAP) initiative to support math fluency and the love of math across the state provides students in grades K-5 with free access to the First in Math Program (online, standards-based math games and activities). This additional practice supports students in meeting grade-level math fluency expectations and is accessible at school and at home. Use of the free math resources is optional and flexible. Schools may use these for enrichment/extension, fun summer learning, and/or to supplement/complement current work being done in the classroom.
As part of EMAP, a Statewide Elementary Mathematics Tournament is held annually for students in grades 1-5, consisting of 10 virtual Regional Contests (Qualifying Round) and an in-person Statewide Championship Event. Approximately 150 students from the 2024 Regional Contest Winning Schools were brought together to compete at this year’s Statewide Event which was held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the SUNY Albany Campus Center. Congratulations to all the 2024 Statewide Event winners!
NYSED is thrilled to announce that starting in June 2024, EMAP is being expanded to include students in grades 6-8. All New York State schools, including (but not limited to) public, BOCES, charter, and religious and independent schools, can now sign up their students in grades 6-8 for FREE First in Math licenses by completing an online request form. Students in grades 6-8 will also be eligible to participate in the 2025 Statewide Mathematics Tournament.
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NYSED Smart Start Grant
In 2021, NYSED awarded $6 million in Smart Start Grant funds to 17 applicants to assist in the professional development of K-8 teachers in their knowledge and expertise of the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency (CSDF) Learning Standards. The purpose of the Smart Start grant is to develop, implement, and share innovative programs that provide professional development and support to increase expertise in computer science, engineering, and/or educational technology among teachers in grades K-8. All grantees publish websites to share their programs with the state, including all materials (with personally identifiable information removed), so NYS educators can freely use, copy, adapt, and implement similar programs.
With the CSDF standards set for full implementation in schools this fall, the library of Smart Start resources is available to support all educators throughout the state on the NYSED website. After three years of grant funding, over 1,200 artifacts have been shared across the grantee websites. All artifacts were developed with NYS educators, aligned to the CSDF standards, and are comprised of lessons, unit plans, and professional learning resources.
Check out these links for a sample of the Smart Start resources:
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NYSED supports the use of virtual and blended learning to provide access to high-quality, culturally and linguistically responsive instructional and learning opportunities and to expand and personalize educational programmatic offerings to meet student needs. To codify this support, the Board of Regents approved changes to amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations related to virtual and blended instruction. While virtual learning has been a part of the educational landscape in New York for decades, schools, districts, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) have previously only been able to offer such learning for courses that result in course credit. The regulations now allow virtual learning across the grade levels, ensuring that schools can continue to expand learning opportunities for students in the digital age. NYSED has published Frequently Asked Questions about virtual learning regulations on our website. | | |
Media Arts Course Flexibility | |
At the March 2023 Board of Regent meeting, the Board approved the permanent adoption of the Amendment of Section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Media Arts Course Flexibility for the Individual Arts Assessment Pathway (IAAP) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways to High School Graduation. The amendment provides local discretion on how to distribute credit for media arts courses within a CTE or IAAP sequence when these courses are taught by a visual arts certified teacher or an appropriately certified CTE teacher. Specifically, the amended regulation allows media arts courses approved by the Department to be included in the three units of diploma credit in an IAAP sequence or in a student’s Department-approved CTE program.
For additional information, please see the April 2024 memo, including the list of approved courses and frequently asked questions.
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Financial Literacy
A February 2024 op-ed from Commissioner of Education Dr. Betty A. Rosa and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, published in Newsday, stressed the importance of financial literacy education: “Financial literacy should be taught in all New York schools. When students take a financial literacy course, they learn personal finance, budgeting, and investing. They become better equipped and informed to make important financial decisions in the future that could impact their long-term financial success and quality of life.”
NYSED is currently examining ways to integrate financial literacy across academic disciplines throughout a student’s academic career. For example, in business and marketing education, students learn in-depth information about finances and business concepts, both for personal use and for use in college and careers. In mathematics, schools can enhance students’ mathematical real-world problem solving and modeling design skills by providing learning experiences that include topics such as loans, interest, and investing (e.g., exponential growth). In social studies, financial literacy can be incorporated in economics courses, as well as other social studies courses, through topics such as budgeting, personal finance, and financial planning.
By prioritizing financial literacy, New York State is investing in the future of its students and ensuring that they are well-prepared to achieve personal financial success and contribute positively to the broader economy.
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New Website!
The Office of Standards and Instruction's website was updated to include the following:
- Office priorities
- Consistent navigation style
- Removal and revision of outdated content
- Timely and accurate resources
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Summer Reading at New York State Libraries |
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Are you looking for ways to promote fun and educational adventures and activities for summer reading to students and families this year?
The summer reading program is a celebration of reading, learning, and fun for all ages. Visit the New York State Library website for more information on summer reading.
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High School Student Governments
Effective September 1, 2024, every school district serving high school students in grades 9-12 without a district-wide or school building peer-selected student government is required to establish at least one student government organization within such district or school building.
For more information, please refer to the memo and Frequently Asked Questions about the new law.
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