APPROVAL OF LOCALLY DEVELOPED SYLLABI IN
ARTS (DANCE, MUSIC, THEATRE, VISUAL ARTS) EDUCATION

 INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

I.         Rational: Why must SED approve some locally developed syllabi?

Section 100.5 (b)(7)(iv)(e) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education provides that all students earning one unit of credit in the Arts (dance, music, theatre, and/or visual arts) must satisfactorily complete a course that meets the expectations in the Learning Standards for the Arts at the commencement level. Any course used to satisfy the Arts diploma requirement must follow a State-developed or State-approved syllabus. Additionally, high school Arts courses that will be used as part of a Regents sequence in the Arts must follow a State-developed or State-approved syllabus.

II.       Syllabi Not Requiring SED Approval

Effective October 2001, local school districts and BOCES are responsible for reviewing and approving local courses and instructional programs in all subject areas except the arts and career and technical education. For additional information on course approvals in career and technical education, see page seventeen of the CTE Administrator's Guide, March 2005 edition located at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/workforce/careerdevelopment/cdos.html

III.     Other Syllabi: What about other locally developed syllabi?

These do not need SED approval, but may be a valuable resource to others who want to develop a similar curriculum.  The Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology would appreciate receiving from administrators, on a voluntary basis, other locally developed syllabi to share with SED subject specialists and other schools.  Syllabi being shared, and for which no SED approval is requested, should be sent with a covering letter giving permission for sharing.

IV.     Procedure: What is the procedure to be followed in submitting a syllabus for approval?

Applications may be submitted any time during the year.  To insure applicability to the following school year, the contact person must submit two copies each of the signed Application and Data Form, and one copy of the Syllabus to: Course Approval, New York State Education Department, Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 320 EB, Albany, New York 12234, no later than April 1 prior to offering a course based upon the syllabus.

When the materials reach SED, course approval personnel complete a preliminary review and ascertain that all necessary information is included.  The materials are then forwarded to the appropriate subject specialist for a review from a content standpoint.  After this review, the materials are returned to the Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team for final decision and notification of the school.

V.        Definitions: What do certain terms on the Application or Data Form mean?

Learning Standards: an established level or degree of quantity, value or quality. The NYS Learning Standards are defined as the knowledge, skills, and understandings that individuals can and do habitually demonstrate over time as a consequence of instruction and experience.  State learning standards are organized into seven general curriculum areas: English Language Arts; The Arts; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Social Studies; Languages Other than English; Health, Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences; Career Development and Occupational Studies.

Syllabus: A document stating the expected learner outcomes, including the goals, objectives, concepts, skills and understandings in a given subject.

Instructional Strategies: Specific activities (group discussions, reports, field trips, laboratory work, demonstrations, etc.) by teachers and/or students which will lead to achieving the objectives for students.

Objectives for Students: Outcomes that are observable and measurable by an evaluator.

School (BEDS) Code Number: the twelve-digit code number assigned by SED to identify schools.

VI.     Useful References: What websites contain information that may be helpful in preparing syllabi to be
         submitted?

Arts Education  http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/arts.html
This site contains News, Q & A, Statewide Data, and a Summary of Commissioner’s Regulations, policies, recommendations and guidelines for PreK-12 Arts (dance, music, theatre, visual arts) Education in New York State. It also has the Learning Standards for the Arts, other publications, ordering information, resources and related links.

Part 100 Regulations of the Commissioner of Education http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/part100/opener.html
The Part 100 website provides information about general education and graduation requirements for elementary, middle, and secondary education. Links to regulatory language, questions/answers regarding policy, appropriate program offices, resource materials, and “hot topics” are included.

Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai
The Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology website provides quick access to each of New York State’s seven learning standard areas.  

New York State Education Department (SED) www.nysed.gov
The New York State Education Department (SED) website provides links to all of its offices and related University of the State of New York (USNY) institutions, including the Board of Regents. It lists news items and provides connections to resources for students, teachers, parents, school administrators, individuals with disabilities, licensed professionals, State residents, and others.  A Google search engine is available to access a range of topics from throughout the Department.

 Please do not return information sheets with application.

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF LOCALLY
DEVELOPED SYLLABUS IN ARTS (DANCE
MUSIC, THEATRE, VISUAL ARTS)|
EDUCATION

 
 

 

For each application, do the following:

1. Review the Information sheet and determine if syllabus approval is required.

2. If syllabus approval is required, submit TWO copies, one signed original (paper) and one electronic (floppy or compact disk) of the Application, Data Form, and Syllabus to: Course Approvals, New York State Education Department, Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team, 89 Washington Avenue, Room 320 EB, Albany, New York 12234.

 

1.     School District:                                                                                                                                       

2.     Name of School:                                                                     County:                                                     

3.     Mailing Address:                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                            Zip Code:                                    

4.     Telephone: (         )                              5. School (BEDS) Code Number                                                

6.   Contact Person:                                                          7. Title:                                                                 

8.   Which subject area does this application address?                                                                                 

9.     Title of syllabus:                                                                                                                                     

10.  Which section/subparagraph of Commissioner's Regulations, Part 100, does this syllabus address?  (See Information Sheet):                                                                                                                          

11. Is this a request for an extension of a previous approval?    o Yes            o       No

   (a) If yes, provide date of previous approval:                                                                                         

            (b) If yes, and the previously approved syllabus has been updated or changed, check here  o and
                  attach to the syllabus a note or other indication(s) explaining where the changes were made.

12.  Is this syllabus approval part of a request for a variance from the Commissioner's Regulations, Part 100?

o Yes            o     No

 (a) If yes, has the variance been approved?                           o Yes            o         No

             (b) If yes, for which syllabus will your proposed syllabus substitute? (See C.R., Part 100.5)

13. The syllabus is prepared for which grade(s)?          8 (Acceleration);        9;         10;         11;        12.

14.    Name any prerequisites/corequisites:                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                        

15.  (a) For which diploma will the syllabus be used?              Local                                    Regents

       (b) For which part of the diploma requirements                 Required Unit                       3-Unit Sequence
         will the syllabus be used?
                                                                                            5-Unit Sequence                     Elective         

       (c) For which academic ability is the syllabus                  All Students                          Average
        design? 
                                                                                            Below Average                     Above Average

*16.  Date course will begin:                              17.  Approximate number of sections:                               

18.    Course will meet: (#)           weeks;  (#)             period/week;  (#)             minutes/period.

19.    Units of Credit:                 o       ½                o       1

20.    Name of Chief School Officer:                                                                                                              

 

Signature:                                                                                      Date:                                                         

(*The syllabus must be submitted no later than April 1 prior to offering a fall course based upon it.)

ABSTRACT

Provide no more than a one-half page, single-spaced, description of the syllabus:  (1) Title, (2) Students Served, (3) Needs Addressed, (4) Content, and (5) Special Features.  This information may be made available to others schools that want to develop a similar syllabus.