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)

January 2007

TO: District Superintendents

Superintendents of Public and Nonpublic Schools

Principals of Public, Nonpublic, and Charter Schools

FROM: David Abrams

SUBJECT: June 2007 Regents Examination Schedule

The June 2007 Regents Examination schedule was carefully constructed in an effort to make the schedule as conducive to student achievement as possible and to minimize the number of instances in which a student might be expected to take two examinations at the same time. In particular, we have attempted to minimize such occurrences for students with disabilities, many of whom are allowed extended time for each examination they take.

The Department has reviewed all the thoughtful feedback we have received from around the State to the draft schedule. After careful consideration of the recommended revisions, the determination was made that the Draft June 2007 Regents Examination schedule best struck the balance of these various needs. For example, both the Mathematics A and the Mathematics B Examinations are scheduled for the same time because we know there are very few students who take both examinations during the same testing period. Further, the Department’s analysis of data from a past June examination period indicates that this alignment of the two mathematics examinations creates far fewer conflicts for students than would arise if either of these examinations were to be administered at the same time as any other Regents Examination.

Please note that an additional scheduling option is available for any high school student whose Individualized Education Program or Section 504 Accommodation Plan requires extended time as a testing accommodation and who is scheduled to take an RCT on the same day as another State examination. To address such concerns, the school may consider rescheduling an RCT to the next available school day during the same test administration period on which this student has no other State examinations scheduled. This option is not permitted for Regents Examinations. The administration of all Regents Examinations must occur on the date indicated on the official schedule distributed by the Office of State Assessment.

Please refer to the memorandum A New Scheduling Option Available to Schools Administering State Examinations to High School Students with Disabilities - Effective January 2004 for detailed instructions that schools must strictly observe to reschedule an RCT to the next available school day. This memorandum may be accessed at: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/ rct1003.htm.