Frequently Asked Questions

Have the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) for ELA and Literacy and the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) for Mathematics replaced the former NYS standards in those subject areas? 
Yes—the Board of Regents adopted the new P-12 CCLS for ELA & Literacy and Mathematics in January 2011. The P-12 CCLS will be phased in over the next year. Please see the SED implementation NYSED Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA/ Literacy, Math, and the Arts Implementation Timeline for additional information. Beginning in school year 2012-13 , 3-8 state assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics will measure student achievement of the P-12 CCLS.

Will there be new learning standards for other subject areas?
Not at this time—there are currently no plans to completely revise NYS learning standards for Science or Social Studies, although there is movement on the national level to create common standards in science. The Board of Regents may review any nationally proposed standards as they are developed. Meanwhile, we recommend the Literacy Standards for History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects be infused with existing standards in those areas; the intent of the CCLS is that all educators become responsible for developing literacy for all students. The new CCLS can be found at NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards.

Where can I go to access previous Board of Regents documents relating to the development of the Common Core State Standards?
The following links provide access to many informative documents relating to the New York State process used to review and adopt the Common Core State Standards, which were adopted for use as the NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for ELA & Literacy, and the NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for Mathematics, both referred to as the CCLS.

• Common Core State Standards Review and Adoption Process-December 2009

• Status Report on Draft "Common Core College and Career Readiness Standards for Mathematics and Standards for Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening"-November 2009

• Status Report on Draft "Common Core State College and Career Readiness Standards for Mathematics and Standards for Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Listening"--October 2009

• Common Core State Standards Review and Adoption Process Update--April 2010

• Common Core State Standards Review and Adoption Process Update--June 2010

• New York Common Core State Standards Adoption--July 2010

• Update on the Common Core State Standards for ELA and Mathematics and the Development of “Next Generation Science Standards”--October 2010 (61.02 KB)
  
  
• Approval of Recommended Additions to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts & Literacy and CCSS for Mathematics and Approval of New Prekindergarten Learning Standards--January 2011
  
  
• January 2011 State Education Department Press Release: Board of Regents Approve New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards,

Will the NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards include a state-wide required curriculum for teachers?
No, there will not be a required curriculum; however, P-12 resources will be provided in the form of curriculum modules for English Language Arts & Mathematics. As part of the Race to the Top agenda, New York State will develop sequenced, spiraled, content-rich curriculum modules for English Language Arts and Mathematics that will be available to school districts in 2012-2013.  Other resources to assist teachers with implementation of the new standards are forthcoming.

Please see the following website for more information:
http://engageny.org/resource/year-long-draft-curricular-maps-in-ela-and-mathematics/

Will a national assessment be developed to measure the Common Core State Standards?
Yes—According to the National Governor’s Association/CCSSO, the Common Core State Standards will ultimately be the basis for a system of high quality assessments. New York State is a governing member of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), which was awarded Race to the Top Assessment funds in 2010.  The PARCC website can be viewed at http://parcconline.org/

Over the next few years, New York and 25 other states will develop a set of English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments which will be available in 2014-15.  The Board of Regents reserves the rights to determine if New York will adopt any national level assessment and determine what that assessment will be used for.

To read more about New York's participation in this initiative, please see New York's Race to the Top application (see Section B pgs. 78-98) or the U.S. Department of Education Race to the Top Assessment program website.

When will New York State assessments be aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards?
In New York State, all Grades 3-8 English and Mathematics state assessments will measure achievement of the new P-12 CCLS in the 2012-2013 school year.  If the Board of Regents accepts the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) 3-12 examinations, they are scheduled to be operational in the 2014-2015 school year.  The Board of Regents will be discussing these exams and their role in the NYS educational system as they are developed before making any decisions.

Is there a timeline for the development and implementation of the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards?
Yes—To view a timeline for school district implications for implementation of these new standards, please visit: Common Core Learning Standards Timeline

Are these new standards intended for all students?
Yes—the new learning standards are intended for all students, including English Language Learners, Students with Disabilities, gifted learners, and struggling learners.

English Language Arts/Literacy Questions

Are there required texts or text types in the new Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) for ELA & Literacy? 
Yes—There are a few texts or types of texts specifically mentioned in the CC Reading Standards.  In addition, many general examples are given throughout the standards.

For example, the following text types are mentioned in the grade specific reading standards for Literature K-5: stories, dramas, poetry, fables, traditional stories, folktales & myths—all from diverse cultures.  The grade specific reading standards for Literature 6-12 also mention examples of text types such as historical novels, fantasy stories, and religious works.

In the Reading Standards for Literature 6-12 for grades 11-12, the following texts are required: one play by Shakespeare and one play by an American dramatist, and in the Reading Standards for Informational Text, the following historical founding documents are mentioned specifically:  The Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Those are the only texts required in the standards, which will now be common across more than 40 states.

Additionally, the Appendix B offers suggested texts designed to exemplify the level of complexity and quality that the standards require all students in a given grade band to experience. They are meant to serve as guideposts to help educators select materials of similar complexity, quality and range for their own classrooms. They “expressly do not represent a partial or complete reading list” (Appendix B page 2). (47.69 KB)

I’m an Elementary Teacher.  My students will begin taking state assessments when they have been changed to evaluate proficiency in the CCLS for ELA & Literacy and Mathematics.  Should the CCLS be implemented for elementary students in grades P-2 beginning with the 2011-2012 school year?
Yes—Furthermore, the NYSED is suggesting that all grades begin to put into practice the CCLS during the 2011-2012 school year by implementing at least one Common Core aligned unit per semester. NYSED Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA/ Literacy, Math, and the Arts Implementation Timeline

What are the Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-12? Who is responsible for teaching literacy in those subjects?

In the introduction to the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, and Technical Subjects, it states: “Grades 6-12 are covered in two content area-specific sections, the first for the English language arts teacher and the second for teachers or history/social studies, and technical subjects.” The 6-12 Literacy Standards, which are included on pages 75-82 of the P-12 CCLS document (541.39 KB), are intended to be taught by teachers of social studies, science, and technical subjects.

The standards for literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects focus on the reading and writing expectations in those subjects. For additional information, please review the introduction to the P-12 CCLS for ELA & Literacy or the Publishers' Criteria for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts & Literacy, which was developed by the writers of the Common Core. The 6-12 literacy section begins on page 12: Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, Grades 3–12 (214.05 KB)

What are the technical subjects referenced in the 6-12 literacy standards?

According to the glossary in Appendix A, technical subjects are defined as “A course devoted to a practical study, such as engineering, technology, design, business, or other workforce-related subject; a technical aspect of a wider field of study, such as art or music.”

Appendix A, page 43: Common Core State Standards For English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies,Science, and Technical Subjects (880.64 KB)

What are the publishers' criteria documents and who developed these ?

The Publishers' Criteria for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, Grades K-2 (141.23 KB) and the Publishers' Criteria for the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, Grades 3-12 (214.05 KB) were written by David Coleman and Susan Pimentel, two of the authors of the Common Core. According to documents, these criteria are designed to guide publishers and curriculum developers as they work to ensure alignment with the standards in English language arts (ELA) and literacy for history/social studies, science, and technical subjects.

Will New York State be adopting the Traditional Pathway or the Integrated Pathway for Commencement level courses aligned to the NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for Mathematics ?

At its January 2011 meeting, the Board of Regents approved the Traditional Course Pathway for High School Mathematics Courses. The New York State Education Department has decided to use Appendix A at NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for districts to design high school mathematics courses (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II) based on the P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for Mathematics. The first administration of the Regents Examination in Algebra I will be in June 2014. The first administration of the Regents Examination in Geometry will be in June 2014. The first administration of the Regents Examination in Algebra II will be in June 2015. For further information on the timeline, please visit Common Core Learning Standards Timeline