New York sets its own course of study and revises each subject on its own schedule. The Next Generation standards in math and English replaced the state's earlier version of the Common Core in 2017, and science runs on a New York adaptation of the national NGSS framework. The through-line is the Regents diploma. From kindergarten on, the work points toward a set of end-of-course exams that students must pass to graduate.
| Subject | Framework | Adopted | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| English Language Arts | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| Science | P-12 Learning Standards | 2016 | View |
| Social Studies | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| Computer Science & Digital Fluency | P-12 Learning Standards | 2020 | View |
| Arts: Dance | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| Arts: Media Arts | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| Arts: Music | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| Arts: Theater | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| Arts: Visual Arts | P-12 Learning Standards | 2017 | View |
| World Languages | P-12 Learning Standards | 2021 | View |
| Physical Education | P-12 Learning Standards | 2020 | View |
| Health Education | P-12 Learning Standards | 1996 | View |
| Career Development & Occupational Studies | P-12 Learning Standards | 1996 | View |
| Social Emotional Learning | P-12 Learning Standards | 2022 | View |
The high-stakes spring tests the state runs.
All New York public school students take this reading and writing test in the spring of grade 3. Students read short passages and answer multiple-choice and written-response questions tied to what they read.
All New York public school students take this math test in the spring of grade 3. It covers the Next Generation grade 3 standards, with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
All New York public school students take this reading and writing test in the spring of grade 4. Students read short passages and answer multiple-choice and written-response questions tied to what they read.
All New York public school students take this math test in the spring of grade 4. It covers the Next Generation grade 4 standards, with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
All New York public school students take this reading and writing test in the spring of grade 5. Students read short passages and answer multiple-choice and written-response questions tied to what they read.
All New York public school students take this math test in the spring of grade 5. It covers the Next Generation grade 5 standards, with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
All New York public school students take this reading and writing test in the spring of grade 6. Students read short passages and answer multiple-choice and written-response questions tied to what they read.
All New York public school students take this math test in the spring of grade 6. It covers the Next Generation grade 6 standards, with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
All New York public school students take this reading and writing test in the spring of grade 7. Students read short passages and answer multiple-choice and written-response questions tied to what they read.
All New York public school students take this math test in the spring of grade 7. It covers the Next Generation grade 7 standards, with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
A spring grade 5 science test based on the New York State Science Learning Standards. It includes a written portion with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions and a separate hands-on performance task students complete in their school.
All New York public school students take this reading and writing test in the spring of grade 8. Students read short passages and answer multiple-choice and written-response questions tied to what they read.
All New York public school students take this math test in the spring of grade 8. Eighth graders enrolled in Regents Algebra I take that course's Regents exam instead and skip the grade 8 math test.
A spring grade 8 science test based on the New York State Science Learning Standards. It includes a written portion with multiple-choice and constructed-response questions and a separate hands-on performance task students complete in their school.
An end-of-course high school exam covering reading and writing. Students typically take it in grade 11 and must pass this exam (or a state-approved equivalent) to earn a Regents diploma.
The end-of-course exam students take after completing Algebra I. Students must pass this exam (or a state-approved equivalent in mathematics) to earn a Regents diploma.
The end-of-course exam students take after completing Geometry. Counts toward the math credits Regents and Regents with Advanced Designation diplomas require.
The end-of-course exam students take after completing Algebra II. Required for a Regents diploma with Advanced Designation.
The end-of-course biology exam most students take in grade 9. Includes a written test and a separate lab requirement students must complete before sitting for the exam.
The end-of-course earth science exam, usually taken in grade 8 or 9. Includes a written test and a separate lab requirement students must complete before sitting for the exam.
The end-of-course chemistry exam, typically taken in grade 10 or 11. Includes a written test and a separate lab requirement students must complete before sitting for the exam.
The end-of-course physics exam, typically taken in grade 11 or 12. Includes a written test and a separate lab requirement students must complete before sitting for the exam.
The end-of-course exam students take after the second year of high school global history, usually in grade 10. Counts toward the social studies credits Regents diplomas require.
The end-of-course US history and government exam, typically taken in grade 11. Counts toward the social studies credits Regents diplomas require.
Tests for English learners and world-language students.
A locally developed end-of-course assessment that measures speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a language other than English at the Novice-High to Intermediate-Low level. Schools use it to award the high school world language credits Advanced Designation diplomas require.
The annual test New York gives to students who have been identified as English Language Learners. It checks speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English and decides whether a student is ready to exit ENL services.
The placement test New York gives to students within ten school days of enrolling, when a parent survey suggests the student may need English language services. Results decide whether the student is identified as an English Language Learner.
Tests that do not fit the buckets above.
The alternate state test for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. NYSAA replaces the Grade 3-8 tests and Regents exams in ELA, math, and science for the small group of students whose IEP teams qualify them.
Not anymore. The state replaced Common Core with its own Next Generation Learning Standards for reading, writing, and math, adopted in 2017 and rolled out in classrooms over the following years. The new standards keep some of the old structure but rewrite many of the expectations grade by grade.
Students in grades 3 through 8 take state reading and math tests each spring. Grades 5 and 8 also take a science test that includes a hands-on lab task. Students take the tests in their own school during the regular day.
Regents exams are end-of-course high school tests in subjects like Algebra I, English, science, and US History. To earn a Regents diploma, a student must pass a set of these exams or state-approved equivalents, usually one in English, one in math, one in science, and two in social studies.
The state has standards for science, social studies, the arts, world languages, physical education, health, computer science and digital fluency, career and occupational studies, and social emotional learning. Computer science and digital fluency standards were added in 2020, and social emotional learning standards followed in 2022.
The State Education Department reviews each subject on its own schedule, so changes are staggered. Reading, writing, math, and social studies were last updated in 2017, science in 2016, and world languages in 2021. Districts usually get a few years to phase new standards into classrooms before the state tests catch up.
