NYS ELA, Math and Science Testing: Information for Families

Good Morning,

I hope this communication finds you relishing in the blue skies and the beautiful sunshine… We certainly could not have asked for better weather this Spring Break!

As I have shared with you in previous communications, the New York State Department of Education submitted a formal request to the United States Department of Education (USDE) to waive state testing requirements at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Given that the USDE has not yet made a determination on our state's waiver request, SED has shared information about administration of the NYS Grades 3 - 8 ELA, Math and Science testing this spring.

NYS Grades 3 - 8 ELA, Math, and Science Assessments
If the NYS waiver request is not granted by USDE, schools will be required to administer only Session 1 of the ELA and Mathematics Tests and the written component of the Science exam to students in Spring of 2021. HCS will administer these exams as outlined below:

ELA Book 1: April 26 - 27
- Grade 5 on Monday, 4/26
- Grades 3-4 on Tuesday, 4/27
- Grades 6-8, Cohort 1 on 4/26 and Cohort 2 on 4/27
ELA Makes Up Test Dates: April 28-29
Math Book 1: May 10 - 11
- Grade 5 on Monday, 5/10
- Grades 3-4 on Tuesday, 5/11
- Grades 6-8, Cohort 1 on 5/10 and Cohort 2 on 5/11
Math Make Up Test Dates: May 12 - 13
Science 4 and 8 Written Exam: June 7-8
- Grade 4 on Monday, 6/7
- Grade 8, Cohort 1 on 6/7 and Cohort 2 on 6/8
Science 4 and 8 Make Up Test Dates: June 9-10

Notes:

The Spring 2021 NYS testing will encompass only one day for ELA and one day for math. These sessions have been reduced in length and include only multiple choice questions. They will NOT include embedded multiple-choice field test questions.
SED does not intend for districts to administer any of this year’s State assessments remotely. Districts are not expected to bring students into school for the tests if they are receiving entirely remote instruction throughout the test administration period.
At HCS, all assessments will be paper and pencil based. There will be no computerized assessments.
Students’ scores will not be tied to state accountability measures.
As in most recent years, the 2021 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests will be untimed. As long as students are working productively they will have as much time as they need to complete each test session within the confines of the regular school day.
As in most recent years, New York State teachers certified in the grade/content were involved in creating, reviewing, and selecting the questions for the Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests.

At HCS, our instructional staff assesses student learning and growth on a daily basis utilizing a variety of formative and summative measures. Student performance drives instructional decision making surrounding the identification and implementation of reteaching, Academic Intervention Services, and extension of content for all students. In a year when students have managed a great deal of uncertainty and change, we recognize that parents may prefer that their child not participate in the NYS 3-8 assessments. As is your right, parents may write and submit a refusal letter to refuse their child(ren) from taking the NYS Assessments grades 3-8. Respectfully, we request that you notify the principal of your child’s school of such a decision in writing by April 19, 2021

NYSED Resources (from 2020):

On behalf of the Honeoye Central School District, many thanks to our community for the ongoing support and partnership in advocacy for all HCS students. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns about the information included in this communication, or otherwise.

Warmest regards,
E. Bridget Ashton

Elizabeth Bridget Ashton
Superintendent, Honeoye Central School District
8528 Main Street
Honeoye, New York 14471
[email protected]
On Twitter: @EBridgetAshton

http://www.nysed.gov/assessments-toolkit Source: NYSED