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Questions for the New York State Education Department?
AMTNYS holds conversations (Conference Calls) with representatives from the New York State Education Department at different times throughout the year. If you have any questions that you would like us to include in one of our upcoming conversations with NYSED, please submit your question here.
For questions about the NYS learning standards or graduation requirements, please send questions to p12StandardsInstruction@nysed.gov.
For questions about the NYS assessments (Grades 3-8, CBT, and Regents exams), please send questions to emsassessinfo@nysed.gov.
NYSED RECENT INFORMATION
NYSED RECENT INFORMATION
September 2026
September 28, 2026 Memo
This memo provides school and district leaders with information on the next phase of NY Inspires.
September 25, 2026 Message to the Field
This message from the State Education Department clarifies misconceptions and explains how NY Inspires will preserve rigorous standards, modernize the state's approach to measuring achievement, and expand opportunities for every student to graduate ready for what comes next.
September 2026 Board of Regents meeting
NY Inspires Statewide Convenings
As New York continues to move the NY Inspires vision toward implementation, district leadership and design teams from across the state will come together locally at their BOCES and Big 5 locations for a series of statewide convenings during the 2026–27 school year. These convenings are part of the NY Inspires Transformation Collaborative, working in partnership with the New York State Education Department, and will connect BOCES, the Big 5, districts, higher education, and other partners in a statewide learning ecosystem. Together, participants will learn, support implementation, test and refine emerging practices, and strengthen feedback loops between policy and practice. By keeping this work close to students, educators, and local communities, learning from across New York can inform and strengthen statewide direction and help turn the NY Inspires vision into sustainable change.
Statewide In-Person Convening Dates
Fall: Friday, October 2, 2026
Winter: Wednesday, February 10, 2027
Snow Date: Thursday, February 18, 2027
Spring: Monday, May 10, 2027
Please reach out to your BOCES or Big 5 leadership with any questions or for additional information about local participation and planning.
Save the date! October 27th Numeracy Hybrid Webinar
The hybrid webinar event will serve as a launch of the best practices guide prepared as directed by Education Law §819 and will additionally include a Q&A with Dr. Ball about the Numeracy Briefs and forthcoming Implementation Guide Sets.
Sites are being organized by local BOCES. Interested educators should inquire to their BOCES and Big 5 districts on how to attend.
Expanded Math Access Program – FREE Access to First in Math!
NYSED’s Expanded Math Access Program (EMAP) initiative to support math fluency and the love of math across the state provides students in grades K-8 FREE access to the First in Math Program (online, standards-based, math games and activities).
This additional practice supports students in meeting grade-level math fluency expectations and is accessible at school and at home. Use of this free math resource is optional and flexible.
All New York State schools (including but not limited to public, BOCES, charter, religious, and independent schools, and nonpublic schools with approved special education programs) can sign up their students in grades K-8 for First in Math licenses by completing an online request form.
Students in grades 1-8 who are enrolled in the First in Math program will be eligible to participate in the 2027 Statewide Mathematics Tournament.
For additional information about the First in Math program, including how to sign up, please contact Nan Ronis, Executive VP, directly at nan@firstinmath.com.
Also, 2026 Statewide Math Tournament highlights are now available!
April 2026
Talent Pool Submissions Open (attachments)
The New York State Education Department is requesting recommendations from teachers and/or principals in elementary through high school (K-12) for consideration of membership on advisory boards, task forces, and special recognition programs.
Your recommendations will identify educators who will be of great value to your community and New York State and who may also ultimately receive prestigious recognition for their contributions and achievements.
The nominee must be a principal or currently teaching at the K-12 level in a New York State public, private, parochial, or charter school, or Department of Defense, and be appropriately credentialed in New York State. Attached please find the fillable recommendation form for submission.
The deadline for submission is April 27, 2026.
Completed submissions and any questions may be emailed to Talentpoolhe@nysed.gov.
Performance-Based Learning and Assessment in Middle & High School Webinar
On April 30, 2026, NYSED will host a hybrid webinar on approaches to performance-based learning and assessment, in support of local implementation of NY Inspires and New York State’s Educational Assessment Strategy in middle and high school.
The primary audience is New York State administrators and school leaders. To attend this event, you must attend in person at a BOCES or Big 5 designated site.
The webinar will feature remarks from Commissioner Rosa and Chancellor Young and a keynote address by Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond of the Learning Policy Institute and Stanford University.
The sessions will highlight connections among the PLAN Pilot, NY Inspires, NYS’s Educational Assessment Strategy, and the NYS Portrait of a Graduate, with presentations from teachers and leaders from LEAs in the Capital Region, Long Island, New York City, and the Southern Tier.
Recordings will be posted on the NYSED webpage in the weeks following the event; watch for that announcement in a future edition of the NYSED Weekly!
Questions may be directed to PLAN.Pilot@nysed.gov.
Draft January, June, August 2027 Regents Examination Schedules for Comment (attachment)
You are receiving this communication to allow you to provide feedback to NYSED on the DRAFT January, June, and August 2027 Regents Examination schedules.
For information regarding the draft schedules, please see the attachment titled DRAFT Regents Examination Schedules for January, June, and August 2027.
Questions may be directed to the Office of State Assessment at 518-474-8220, and feedback should be sent to emsctesting@nysed.gov.
New York State Portrait of a Graduate and Inquiry-Based Learning in PreK-5 Webinar Recording Available
On January 14, 2026, the NYSED Offices of the PLAN Pilot, Early Learning, and Standards & Instruction collaboratively hosted the NYS Portrait of a Graduate & Inquiry-Based Learning in PreK–Grade 5 hybrid webinar, which included opening remarks from Commissioner Rosa and closing remarks from Chancellor Young.
Stephen Ritz, Founder of the Green Bronx Machine, delivered the keynote address and energized attendees with the story behind his internationally recognized work.
Resources were shared to support districts with integrating the Portrait of a Graduate into curriculum and instruction in PreK-5, and school leaders engaged in regional discussions on implementation.
The session highlighted connections between the Portrait of a Graduate attributes and developmentally appropriate, inquiry-based learning.
A recording of the NYS Portrait of a Graduate & Inquiry-Based Learning in PreK–Grade 5 hybrid webinar can now be viewed on the NYSED website.
Questions may be directed to gradmeasures@nysed.gov.
September 2025
New York State Portrait of a Graduate
At its July 2025 meeting, the NYS Board of Regents adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, a key milestone in NY Inspires, the State Education Department’s plan for transformative education. The Portrait defines the essential skills and dispositions all students should develop to succeed in college, careers, and civic life.
To support understanding, the Department has created “Need-to-Know” documents tailored for students, parents, educators, administrators, and school board members. These resources provide role-specific guidance and serve as tools for engagement, professional learning, and strategic planning.
While the Portrait has been adopted, current diploma requirements remain in effect until the Board of Regents approves any amendments.
For more information, visit the Graduation Measures website or email GradMeasures@nysed.gov.
August 2025
Preliminary Gr3-8 Data NYSED Press Release - State Education Department Releases Preliminary Data on English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science State Exam
July 2025
United States Department of Education (USDE) Approves Extension of New York State’s “Double Testing” Waiver for Grades 6 and 7 Mathematics and Grades 7 and 8 Science - On July 15, 2025, the USDE granted the New York State Education Department a waiver extension.
New York State Portrait of a Graduate - At the July 2025 Board of Regents meeting, the Board formally adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. NYSED Press Release: State Education Department Presents New York State Portrait of a Graduate
June 2025
Office of State Assessment Releases 2026 Regents Examination Schedules - The schedules for the January, June, and August 2026 Regents Examinations are now available on the High School Examination Schedules webpage.
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