Background

Academic standards define what New York students are expected to learn at each grade level in order to graduate ready for success in college and career. All of us agree on the importance of high standards for our students. And, we want the best possible standards as we continue to move forward on the progress that has been made in academic achievement.

In January 2011, the NYS Board of Regents adopted the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards, which include the nationally recognized Common Core State Standards and a small amount of additional standards uniquely added by New York State. The Common Core State Standards were created through a collaborative effort on behalf of the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The standards were developed by key stakeholders in the field, including teachers, school administrators, and content experts.

The New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards:

• provide a consistent set of expectations for what students should learn and be able to do
• are internationally-benchmarked and evidence-based

The New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards are not:

• assessments
• evaluations
• curriculum

This survey provides an opportunity for every New Yorker to go online, review each standard and comment on what is liked, not liked, or offer a suggestion for a change to a particular standard. Please note: Respondents do not need to comment on every standard. Please comment on as few or as many standards as desired.

This is not a referendum on the standards. Only comments tied to a specific standard will be considered. The objectives of this review are to:

1. increase awareness and understanding of New York’s current standards in ELA and math that were adopted in 2011; and
2. gather actionable feedback from all New Yorkers as part of the department’s regular review process of the academic standards with an eye toward continuous improvement.

Comments provided about specific standards will be evaluated and reviewed by teams of New York educators from all levels specializing in the specific content areas. Any changes recommended by these teams will be presented to the New York Board of Regents for its consideration. Any changes to the standards would not be implemented until the 2016-17 school year or later.

The following principles will guide this review:

1. Focus on the standards: The review will focus on the substance of the actual standards themselves.
2. Improve what already exists; don’t start over: The intent is to improve current standards based on public input from parents, educators, administrators, etc.

Navigating the Standards

The standards in this application are arranged by subject and grade level. To review a standard, click the plus sign beside the standard to see more detailed information. You can browse the standards within a grade level in whatever order you wish. To find particular standards to review, you may also search for a particular concept in the search bar.

Resources

• Standards Review Frequently Asked Questions
• New York State Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core
• New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy
• New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for Mathematics
• High School Mathematics Standards Clarifications and Course Overviews
  • Algebra I Standards Clarifications
  • Geometry Standards Clarifications
  • Algebra II Standards Clarifications
  • Grades 9-12 Mathematics Curriculum Map
• Common Core Shifts (including a guide to the shifts for parents)
• Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – National standards upon which the NYS standards are based
• Common Core FAQ(link is external)
• Common Core Myths v. Facts(link is external)
• Common Core Key Points in ELA(link is external)
• Common Core Key Points in Math(link is external)
• Common Core Video Series with former Commissioner King
• Parents’ Guide to Student Success(link is external)