SED Releases DRAFT State Standards

Today, from noon to almost 1:00, Commissioner Elia held a press conference to announced the release of new DRAFT State Standards for English and Mathematics. Educators and the general public may comment on the DRAFT Standards, now through November 4. The new draft learning standards for ELA and mathematics are available on SED’s AIMHighNY website for public review and comment.

Two committees comprised of more than 130 educators and parents were involved in the Standards review process, though Commissioner Elia said that “several thousand people” requested to be included in committee membership.  Overall, recommendations were made to change 60 percent of ELA and 55 percent of mathematics standards; though during the press conference Commissioner Elia indicated that for Anchor Standards, only wording revisions are recommended in order to enhance clarity. In fact Commissioner Elia expects that the name of the standards will change from the “Common Core,” but this determination will be made by the state Board of Regents.

To review the new draft standards for ELA, visit: http://www.nysed.gov/draft-standards-english-language-arts. To review and comment on the ELA standards, please download the grade level you would like to comment on and then complete the survey questions. To review the new draft standards for mathematics, visit: http://www.nysed.gov/draft-standards-mathematics.

This fall, SED will review comments and recommendations received, and will present final revisions for Board of Regents consideration and approval in early 2017. In answer to a reporter’s questions, the commissioner indicated that no revisions to the ELA and mathematics 3-8 assessments are planned for 2015-16 or 2016-17; that new assessments are  planned for implementation in 2018-19.

More information regarding the DRAFT Standards is available here, including audio and video links of Commissioner Elia. We hope that you will find this information helpful. We will continue to keep you updated. All the best. …Jim Viola