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What are Learning Standards?
Learning Standards are defined as the knowledge, skills, and understandings that individuals habitually demonstrate over time as a consequence of instruction and experience.
A description and a brief history of the New York State Learning Standards are available online.
The New York State Board of Regents has called for a renewal of the learning standards through its online document, P-16 Education: A Plan for Action.
What are the Learning Standards for Social Studies?
New York State has five specific content areas for standards:
Taken together, these content standards, their key ideas and the performance indicators, define the Learning Standards for Social Studies for all students.
What are key ideas?
Key ideas are the major domains (skills, knowledge, or ideas) that define fields of study or areas of learning. They define the respective learning standards in social studies.
What are performance indicators?
Performance indicators are descriptions of student achievement expectations on the developmental levels of elementary (grades K-4), intermediate (grades 5-8) and commencement (grades 9-12).
What is a core curriculum?
The core curriculum is a content outline providing an additional level of specificity to the Learning Standards for Social Studies. Its guidelines assist local school districts in developing a PreK – Grade 12 social studies program.
Additional information on New York State core curricula is available online.
How are school districts using the social studies learning standards?
The five social studies learning standards and the content outlines found in the Social Studies Resource Guide with Core Curriculum are used by local school districts to organize and plan a local curriculum. The standards, content, concepts, themes, and skills that make up the New York State Social Studies Core Curriculum, PreK–12, provide the broad outlines for social studies courses. Districts use these to coordinate their local social studies programs and prepare curriculum and instructional materials that address local needs and interests.
What social studies core curricular materials are available for teachers?
There are many core curricular materials available to teachers online:
Learning Standards for Social Studies (June 1996 – PDF 100K file) defines the five Learning Standards, their Key Ideas, and Performance Indicators.
Social Studies Resource Guide with Core Curriculum (reprinted 2002) outlines the entire K – 12 New York State Social Studies program.
Economics, The Enterprise System, and Finance (February 2002 – PDF 484K file) and Participation in Government (April 2002 – PDF 420 K file) outline the courses of study for the Grade 12 program.
Social Studies Instructional Strategies & Resources: Prekindergarten Through Grade 6 (2003) – teachers can download the “Introduction” and the grade level they teach or are most interested in. The entire publication can be downloaded, especially for curriculum committees.
There are additional materials available. Please refer to SED’s Publications Catalog for the complete list of social studies publications, and visit the Social Studies Publications page for links to online publications.
How can I obtain printed copies of social studies publications?
Social Studies publications are listed in the Education Department’s Publications Catalog (PDF file). Contact the Publications Sales Office at (518) 474-3806 for a print copy. You can also access a Publications Order Form online.
Please note: Future publications will only be available online.
What is AIS (Academic Intervention Services)?
AIS is additional instruction intended to assist students who are at-risk of not achieving the NYS Learning Standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and/or Social Studies.
Commissioner’s Regulations require the provision of AIS in Grades 4 – 12 based on a student’s performance on elementary, intermediate, and commencement-level examinations, no later than the beginning of the semester following a determination that the student needs such services.
For more information on AIS, please consult the following resources:
Section 100.1 Definitions (from Part 100 Commissioner’s Regulations)
Guidelines for Implementing Academic Intervention Services (memo from James A. Kadamus, January 2000 – PDF file)
Guidelines of Academic Intervention Services Implementation (supplement)
Can a school replace Participation in Government and Economics in the senior year with AP European History, provided that the students study government and economics within that course and their other courses?
No. Previously, some schools were granted variances by SED to offer this program; however, all variances have since been phased out. More recently, Economics, the Enterprise System, and Finance and Participation in Government have both been revised to reflect the New York State social studies standards and the national economics and civics standards. In Participation in Government, students are asked to investigate policy issues at local, state, national, and international levels. This was never the intent of AP European History. Please see the graduation requirements for social studies listed above.
What social studies textbooks or instructional materials would you recommend?
New York is a “non-adoption” state. It cannot recommend a particular textbook, piece of software, instructional resource, etc. School districts have the flexibility and responsibility to identify appropriate content and resources to help students achieve the NYS Learning Standards.
Suggestions: Contact the major educational publishers for catalogs and review copies of their materials. Consult colleagues at other school districts for recommendations. Attend a local, state, or national social studies council conference – all of which have publishers’ exhibits. The New York State Council for the Social Studies’ annual conference is April 2-5, 2008 in Buffalo.
For more information on the NYSED social studies website, please visit the Related Links page.
How do character education and Project SAVE fit into a school district’s social studies instructional program?
Character education should be an intentional, proactive, and comprehensive program. It touches on all phases of school life. The basic civic values articulated in Social Studies Standard 5, Key Idea 2 are found in most character education programs. These civic values embody such concepts as “justice, honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect for self, others, and property.” These principles are the core of the American democratic system. Character education is basic social and emotional development in the early years.
Further information is available online regarding Project SAVE, Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act: Instruction in Civility, Citizenship and Character Education.
In 2007, the Department began supporting three-year grants to public school districts and/or charter schools to design, develop, and implement standards-based instruction in grades kindergarten through twelve on civility, citizenship, and character education. A list of Project SAVE grant award winners, along with their project abstracts, is available online.
What are the graduation requirements for social studies?
According to Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to general education and diploma requirements, students must have 4 units of credit in social studies, which includes:
In addition, students must pass the following Regents examinations:
For a Regents-endorsed diploma, a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma, a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing.
For students with disabilities who fail the Regents examination in Global History and Geography, the local diploma requirements may be met by passing the Global Studies Regents Competency Test. For students with disabilities who fail the Regents examination in United States History and Government, the local diploma requirements may be met by passing the United States History and Government Regents Competency Test. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).
Please see the General Information & Diploma Requirements chart available online for complete information on the general education high school diploma requirements for students entering Grade 9 in 2002-2009.
What are the requirements in social studies for a student who wishes to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation?
In social studies, the student needs to complete the requirements for a Regents diploma.
What is the new graduation standard?
In July 2005, the Board of Regents approved a proposed amendment to Section 100.5 of the Commissioner's Regulations to implement its policy for a four-year phase in of the 65 passing score on the five required Regents exams: English, Global History & Geography, Mathematics, Science, and United States History & Government.
Students who score at 65 or above on required Regents exams will earn a Regents-endorsed diploma. Students who score between 55-64 on a required Regents exam during the phase-in period may earn a local diploma, at the discretion of the local board of education. Students with disabilities will still have the safety net option of taking and passing the Regents Competency Test if they have not been successful on the corresponding Regents exam in order to earn a local diploma. This provision will continue for students with disabilities entering grade 8 prior to September 2010. The low-pass option of scoring between 55-64 on the required Regents exams to earn a local diploma will become a permanent safety net for students with disabilities, with no local option.
The Regents also approved an appeals process in which students who score within three points of 65 and have achieved the standards would be eligible to appeal if they met certain criteria. The Department is developing guidance, an application form for seeking a waiver, and a form for reporting to the Department the number of appeals sought and granted.
Where can I learn about education services for students with disabilities?
The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) is the best source of information regarding State law, regulation, and policy governing the education of students with disabilities.
What social studies tests are given to PreK–12 students in New York State?
In order to track statewide progress of students in meeting the five social studies standards, all students are required to take the following State examinations:
What are the dates for the social studies tests this school year?
The Office of State Assessment maintains current Examination Schedules on its website.
Which students may be admitted to January Social Studies Regents examinations?
All students must complete their course of study before they are entitled to take a social studies Regents examination. Therefore, students who are completing their course of study in January or who have completed the course, albeit unsuccessfully, in a previous school year may take a social studies Regents examination in January. Schools may not administer January Regents Examinations to classes of students who are enrolled in a full year social studies course of study in Global History and Geography or U.S. History and Government.
The only circumstance in which schools are permitted to administer Regents examinations to students who have not completed the corresponding course of study is in the context of awarding “credit by examination,” as provided in Part 100.5(d)(1) of Commissioner’s Regulations. The purpose of that opportunity is essentially to acknowledge and reward students who have accelerated beyond the school’s instructional program and completed the course or its equivalent through other means. Students meeting the criteria are awarded credit by examination, allowing them to pursue more advanced material, presumably elective courses, in social studies or in another content area. The primary shortcoming with giving these tests prematurely is that students are being assessed in substantial parts of the social studies curriculum that have not yet been covered in their classroom instruction.
The rules governing this issue are provided on page 4 of the School Administrator’s Manual for the secondary-level testing programs (note: this is a PDF file).
The pertinent excerpt reads: “All students who have completed the course of study leading to a Regents examination or an occupational education proficiency examination have the right to be admitted to that examination.” The Department considers the converse to be true as well, that is, students who have not completed the course of study do not have the right to be admitted to the examination, and indeed must not be, except as allowed under Part 100.5(d)(1) of Commissioner’s Regulations.
Are the State assessments translated in other languages?
Yes, the Grade 5 Elementary-Level Social Studies Test and the Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Social Studies Test are available in Spanish, Chinese, and Haitian-Creole.
The Global History and Geography Regents and the United States History and Government Regents are available in Spanish, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, and Russian.
All social studies tests administered in August are available in English and Spanish.
What are the Department-approved alternatives to State assessments in social studies?
A current listing of all Department-Approved Alternative Examinations Acceptable for Meeting Requirements for a Local or Regents Diploma is available on the Office of State Assessment website.
The AP World History Test is an approved alternative to the Global History and Geography Regents with a score of 3 or higher.
The AP United States History Test is an approved alternative to the United States History and Government Regents with a score of 3 or higher.
The SAT II United States History Test is also an approved alternative to the United States History and Government Regents with a score of 560 or higher. In addition to achieving the established score, students must complete a multi-source, in-depth research project that demonstrates the ability to use primary and secondary sources.
Can a student be exempted from either Regents diploma testing requirement for social studies?
The Regulations of the Commissioner of Education provide certain conditions under which a transfer student who has not previously been home instructed or attended school in New York can earn a diploma without meeting the requirements for passing the Regents examination in global history and geography.
Section 100.5(d)(5) of Commissioner’s Regulations grants high school principals the authority to waive certain testing requirements for a local or Regents diploma only for those students who first enter a New York State high school from another state or country in either Grade 11 or 12. For such students who first enter a New York State high school in Grade 11, “the principal may exempt a student from the requirement for the Regents examination in global history and geography.” For those who first enter a New York State high school in Grade 12, “the principal may exempt a student from the requirement for the Regents examination in science and the Regents examination in global history and geography.”
For transfer students who first enter a New York State high school from another state or country in either Grade 11 or 12 and who seek to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation, the principal may exempt a student from the requirement for the Regents examination in global history and geography.
Transfer students seeking to earn a local diploma, a Regents diploma, or a Regents diploma with advanced designation must pass all of the remaining State examinations ordinarily required to earn that diploma. “Transfer students [who first enter a New York State high school in either Grade 11 or 12 and who are exempted from taking specific State assessments shall have their transcript and permanent records so annotated.” Principals may not waive any testing requirements for transfer students who were enrolled in a registered or non-registered New York State public or nonpublic school or who received home instruction in New York State for any or all of Grade 9 or 10.
What are testing accommodations for students with disabilities?
Many students with disabilities require testing accommodations in order to participate in testing programs on an equal basis with their non-disabled peers. Such accommodations provide students with the ability to demonstrate mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability.
For more information, the following documents are available:
Test Access and Modifications for Individuals with Disabilities
Test Access and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Tools to Guide Decision-Making
What are New York State Alternate Assessments?
The New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is a data folio assessment for students with severe disabilities, in which students demonstrate their performance toward meeting the alternate performance indicator level of the New York State Learning Standards.
For additional information, please refer to the following webpages:
The Learning Standards and Alternate Performance Indicators for Students with Severe Disabilities
New York State Alternative Assessment (NYSAA) (age criteria, administration dates, scoring period, test blue prints, and more – also available at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/alterassessment/).
What is the “strand system” for pretesting and field testing State social studies tests?
In October 2004, Assistant Commissioner David Abrams sent a memorandum to school administrators that detailed a new sampling matrix system in which every elementary and middle-level school in the state was assigned to a particular “strand” for pretesting and/or field testing State examinations. For further information go to www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/, under Elem/Interm select Important Notices and then select Elementary/Intermediate Field-Test Matrix. This plan is very similar to the high school strand system that was created for each New York State high school early in 2004 for field testing and/or pretesting Regents Examinations. For further information on the high school strand system go to www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa, under High School select Important Notices and scroll down to Pretest/Field Test cover memo, School list by strand, and FT/PT matrix (March 2004). The current strand lists assign each school building in the state to a specific strand while the strand matrix determines what subjects a school may be asked to pretest or field test each year through the 2008– 2009 school year. New strand lists covering the next five years will be posted this school year.
Each strand includes a representative sample of either elementary, middle or high schools throughout New York State. There are 10 elementary strands, 8 middle-level strands and 6 high school strands. Very often, different buildings within a specific school district are assigned to different strands. For example, within the Albany City School District, School 16 is assigned to strand ES4 while School 18 is assigned to strand ES9.
These new sampling systems were designed to reduce and equalize the pretesting/field testing responsibilities among all schools and to give schools a 5-year pretest and/or field test schedule for planning purposes. By knowing their strand, schools can identify their pretesting and/or field testing assignments in advance. This system includes pretesting and/or field testing samples for the Grade 5, Grade 8, and Regents-level social studies tests.
For social studies samples, it is important to note that there are instances for the Grade 5 and 8 social studies samples when a school within a particular strand will not be asked to pretest or field test. This occurs when only a partial sample of schools is needed to meet Department testing requirements.
Social Studies Strand Assignments for the 2007–2008 School Year
|
Subject |
Matrix Used |
Strand Assigned |
Required Testing Period |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Grade 5 Social Studies |
Elementary |
ES2 |
120 minutes |
|
Grade 8 Social
Studies* |
Intermediate |
MS3 |
90 minutes |
|
Global History
(Long)** |
High School |
3 |
120 minutes |
|
Global History
(Short) |
High School |
4 |
40 minutes |
|
U.S. History (Long)** |
High School |
1 |
120 minutes |
|
U.S. History (Short) |
High School |
2 |
40 minutes |
*Only a partial sample will be needed this year. A smaller representative sampling of schools will be selected from all schools in strand MS3, but some schools in this strand will not be asked to participate.
** The terms long and short denote the amount of testing time required. When schools are part of a “short” sample they will be able to administer those assigned pretests or field tests within a class period. When schools are part of a “long” sample they are being asked to test thematic essays or DBQs that require more than a class period to administer. In those instances schools will be required to make arrangements for either a one and a half hour or two-hour testing period depending on the specific pretest or field test forms being provided to the school.
What work can I do for the State Education Department?
The State Education Department values teachers' expert opinion in guiding this important work and encourages increased involvement of them from all parts of the State. SED has recently issued a Call for Expertise to solicit teacher interest in state-level work. Your name will be entered into our database maintained by the Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team. This database will be used to form future teacher committees in curriculum and instruction.
If you are interested in writing items for SED's Grade 5 Elementary-Level Social Studies Test, Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Social Studies Test, Global History and Geography Regents, or United States History and Government Regents and can attend an item writing orientation, please download an Item Writers’ Application from the Office of State Assessment Web site.
If you are interested in serving on a “Final Eyes”review committee for social studies assessments, please download a Final Eyes Review Application from the Office of State Assessment Web site.
Who do I contact for more information about social studies at the State Education Department?
Please contact the Associates listed below.
Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Instructional Technology: (518) 474-5922
Office of State Assessment: (518) 474-3860