TEACHER-DRIVEN CHANGES TO TESTING

IN NEW YORK STATE

For the past two years, Educators 4 Excellence-New York teachers have led from the classroom by creating
recommendations to improve testing for all teachers and students.
This school year, the New York State Education Department will begin the rollout of a new process that reflects many
of the recommendations presented in None of the Above: A New Approach to Testing and Assessment and Paths
for All: Implementing the Common Core for Unique Student Populations.

E4E-NEW YORK RECOMMENDATION

Expand the use of computer

adaptive assessments

Adjust time limitations

for Unique Student
Populations

CHANGES ANNOUNCED BY NYSED

900 schools across the state are piloting

computer-based field testing.
The state will collect feedback and
address issues to expand the computer
based testing.
Students who are working productively
will have unlimited time on assessments.
A memo with guidance from the state will
soon be released.
Third and fourth grade ELA exams
reduced by one reading passage,
six multiple-choice questions, one
constructed response, and one essay.

Eliminate unnecessary and

redundant exams

Fifth through eighth grade ELA exams

reduced by one English passage, seven
multiple choice questions, and one essay
question.
Third through eighth grade math tests
reduced by up to four questions.
25% fewer students will have to take
stand alone field exams.

Release the vast majority

of state test items publicly

The state will release at least 60% of the

total test items.
The state said it is hoping to eventually
release all items that are not a part of the
field test.
156 teachers involved in creation of this
springs test.

Incorporate classroom
teachers throughout the
design process of test
items, including item
creation and field-testing

72 educators reviewed this springs

tests
4
8 other teachers took field questions
and created final test forms
3
6 separate educators reviewed tests
forms before print
Plans for all questions to be written by
teachers with assistance from Questar
by 2018.