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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
         89 Washington Avenue
         Room 675 EBA
         Albany, NY 12234

Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education

David Abrams, Assistant Commissioner

Office for Standards, Assessment and Reporting

(518)  473-7880               (518) 473-7737 (fax)

November 2006

TO:                  Principals of Public and Nonpublic Elementary and Intermediate Schools

FROM:            David Abrams 

SUBJECT:      Rulers and Protractors for the Grades 3-8 Mathematics Tests

Due to past problems associated with the manufactured quality of the cardboard Mathematics Tests punch-out tools (rulers and protractors), the Department will no longer supply these. Instead, for only the 2007 Grades 3-8 Mathematics Tests, the Department will provide plastic versions of these punch-out tools. These tools will not be supplied by the Department for subsequent years; therefore, it is important to store them in a safe place for future Grades 3-8 Mathematics Tests if you wish to continue to use them.

The rulers and protractors will be sent to schools by the end of February 2007. Shipments for public schools will be sent to their school district offices. Shipments for nonpublic schools, charter schools, and BOCES educational programs will be sent directly to the schools.

Some classroom teachers and administrators from across the State have expressed a preference that students be able to use the same rulers and protractors that they use every day in the classroom. These may be used in lieu of the State-issued tools provided that they do not have pertinent information, such as mathematics formulas, written on them and they meet the specifications set forth below. Note that counter squares and geometric figures will no longer be used in conjunction with the Grades 3 and 4 Mathematics Tests.

Grades 3 and 4 Mathematics Tests – Specifications for Rulers

·       Rulers may be constructed of plastic, wood, metal, cardboard, or other suitable material.

·       Rulers may be anywhere between 6 inches and 12 inches long.

·       Rulers must include inch to 1/8 inch subdivisions; they may include 1/16 inch subdivisions.

·       Rulers must include centimeters.

Grades 5-8 Mathematics Tests – Specifications for Rulers and Protractors

·       Rulers must include inch to 1/16 inch subdivisions.

·       Rulers must include centimeters (with millimeter subdivisions). Protractors must be of clear plastic and measure no shorter than 3 and 15/16 inches in diameter and no longer than 4 and 3/4 inches in diameter.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of State Assessment at 518-474-5902.