Letter for Parents/Guardians regarding 2024 Grades 3-8 NYS Assessments

The Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Tests are being administered this spring to students across New York State. These annual ELA (Gr 3-8), Math (Gr 3-8), and Science (Gr 5 & 8) tests are required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction and help to ensure that students are on track to graduate from high school with the critical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills needed for success in college and the modern workplace. The tests also show how schools and districts are progressing with the learning standards and can support professional development for teachers; as well as determine whether schools, districts and the State meet the required progress targets specified in the NYS accountability system and in ESSA.  

Testing Window  

*Specific Dates within these windows will be determined and communicated prior to testing by your child’s building Principal  

Middle Schools (Gr 6-8)

• ELA PBT and CBT for Grades 6, 7, 8 will be administered on 4/10-4/11; makeups for PBT through 4/17; makeups for CBT through 5/17

• Math CBT Grade 8 will be administered on 5/7-5/8; makeups through 5/17

• Math PBT Grades 6, 7 will be administered on 5/7-5/8; makeups through 5/14

• Science CBT Grade 8 will be administered on 4/30; makeups through 5/17 (no PBT unless SWD)

Elementary Schools (Gr 3-5)

• ELA PBT for Grades 3, 4 will be administered on 4/10-4/11; makeups through 4/17

• ELA CBT for Grades 5 will be administered on 4/16-4/17; makeups through 5/17

• Math PBT for Grades 3, 4 will be administered on 5/7-5/8; makeups through 5/14

• Math CBT for Grades 5 CBT will be administered on 5/9-5/10; makeups through 5/17

• Science CBT Grade 5 will be administered on 4/30; makeups through 5/17

NOTE:  NYSESLAT - 4/15 thru 5/24 - PBT only

If parents/guardians have any questions they are asked to reach out to the building Principal.  

See letter to Parents/Guardians here.  

Data Requests:

The Data Team is processing Infinite Campus issues/questions and Data Requests as well as Classlink through Let’s Talk. This allows the Data Team to efficiently monitor requests and ensure timelines are met. 

Upcoming Missing Attendance Message: The Office of District Initiatives, Planning and Accountability will begin to send messages for missing attendance after the new year. Teachers have until 11:59 pm of that day to take attendance, once this time has passed then the teacher will need to work with the Building Attendance Paraprofessional to update attendance records.

Upcoming Parent Portal Account Creation Process: We have created a new automated process for families that want to create a new Parent Portal Account. We will no longer be using the Parent Portal form and instead will be sending messages to parents/guardians based on the email on file. It will contain a strongly suggested username and activation key to create the account. More information will be sent out soon.

BEDS Day Communication: Included is a link to a resource that outlines the process and deadline for BEDS Day and timelines. If you would like training or support in this process please reach out through Let’s Talk to schedule a time. 

If you have students that have not stepped foot in your building or you believe may be attending another school please email Katy Vacca                                        (vaccak@schenectadyschools.org). Registration and DIPA will work together to ensure we provide accurate information to the State for BEDS Day.

New Data Visualizations:

For Teachers: The new data visualization in Infinite Campus “Electronic Referral by Staff” will show you submitted referrals and resolutions.

Here are directions to get to Dashboard in the New Look:

• Navigate to the Main Menu

• Select Custom Data Visualization

• Under Behavior select Electronic Referrals by Staff

For Principals: The new data visualization in Infinite Campus “Electronic Referral by School” and will show you submitted referrals, events and resolutions.

Here are directions to get to Dashboard in the New Look:

• Navigate to the Main Menu

• Select Custom Data Visualization

• Under Behavior select Electronic Referrals by School

For Behavior Designee: The new data visualization in Infinite Campus “Electronic Referral by School” and will show you submitted referrals and resolutions. 

Here are directions to get to Dashboard in the New Look:

• Navigate to the Main Menu

• Select Custom Data Visualization

• Under Behavior select Electronic Referrals by School

Trip finder is up and running! Our focus was to go paperless and it has been a success. Trip finder is a 4-step process for approvals to submit field trips from all schools and programs. It is imperative that all PO'S (BLUE COPY) be submitted to Transportation 1 week prior to the trip date to make sure our vendors are being paid timely and your service is being scheduled. Thank you for your cooperation and feedback. We will continue to progress with this program to include billing and other features which will allow you to run multiple reports to keep you informed. 

Schenectady City School District has approximately 6 afterschool programs that are actively running. We have approximately 300 students who attend these programs and they end between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, with some students being transported home by 7:30pm. Now that the colder weather and dark nights have arrived, please make sure our students are properly dressed for the walk and bus ride home with hats,coats,boots and mittens. For any students who require a parent at a corner stop, please make sure they arrive 10 minutes prior to the drop off time to ensure the students have a safe walk home. 

As the winter continues, it will be very important for families to start listening to radio stations, news channels and social media for daily and weekly forecasts. From proper dress to road conditions, knowing this information is helpful and will keep our students safe. Delays, closings and early dismissals will also be shared by these outlets.

Please note that all transportation hardship requests should be emailed to hardshiprequests@schenectadyschools.org.

Lastly, I wanted to share that your feedback is important and continues to help us ensure our efforts to provide safe and efficient transportation. This feedback is invaluable for us now and into the future if we are going to continue to make progress. Thank you for your support and communication.

Home School/Instruction continues to be supported for 2023-2024! If you have interested families looking for information, please inquire to see that they have reviewed their intent with the Principal or Counselors.  Please remember to ask the following questions of families/guardians before referring to homeschooling:

• Why are they requesting homeschooling?

• What has occurred in the building to lead to this decision?

• What has the building done to connect and resolve any challenges facing the student?

We have developed a "Fact Sheet for Counselors" to assist the conversations with families about homeschooling.  Please let us know if  you have any questions.

If homeschooling is still of interest to the parent/families, please remember that the school is still responsible to document the student in IC until a letter of intent (LOI) is received by the parent - we cannot change IC just because the family states they are homeschooling.  AND, please provide them with the following: 

Questions regarding home instruction should be directed to Connie Miller at 518-464-3982 and/or homeschooling@neric.org.

Documents may be submitted via email to homeschooling@neric.org or hard copies mailed to the address below:

Attn:  Connie Miller

Capital Region BOCES

900 Watervliet Shaker Road

Albany, NY 12205

Please contact Tracy Angelini, if you have any questions.

Please check your Grant-Funded Timesheets for accuracy before signing and sending them to the Grants Department. Timesheet comments must align with the description in the budget.  For instructional staff, indicate contact hours when working directly with students; and non-contact hours for staff meetings and professional development.  Timesheets also need accurate totals. All grant-funded timesheets will be returned to buildings for revision if not filled out correctly.    

Please contact Christy Ferri at ferric@schenectadyschools.org if you have any questions regarding grants or title funding. 

2023–24 School Year Elementary- and Intermediate-level Testing Schedule per NYSED

UPDATED - SCSD Testing Schedule for 2023-2024

NYSAA ELA, Math, and Science

Monday, March 11 - Friday, June 7;  Make-ups must be given within the testing window

Regional testing window for each content by NERIC - dates for SCSD - all district Gr 3-8: 

We finalized the dates to administer the CBT and PBT as follows:

Middle Schools (Gr 6-8)

• ELA PBT and CBT for Grades 6, 7, 8 will be administered on 4/10-4/11; makeups for PBT through 4/17; makeups for CBT through 5/17

• Math CBT Grade 8 will be administered on 5/7-5/8; makeups through 5/17

• Math PBT Grades 6, 7 will be administered on 5/7-5/8; makeups through 5/14

• Science CBT Grade 8 will be administered on 4/30; makeups through 5/17 (no PBT unless SWD)

Elementary Schools (Gr 3-5)

• ELA PBT for Grades 3, 4 will be administered on 4/10-4/11; makeups through 4/17

• ELA CBT for Grades 5 will be administered on 4/16-4/17; makeups through 5/17

• Math PBT for Grades 3, 4 will be administered on 5/7-5/8; makeups through 5/14

• Math CBT for Grades 5 CBT will be administered on 5/9-5/10; makeups through 5/17

• Science CBT Grade 5 will be administered on 4/30; makeups through 5/17

NOTE:  NYSESLAT - 4/15 thru 5/24 - PBT only

Principals - the Tech Readiness Checklist is due on or before December 29, 2023 - please prepare to complete before December 15 so we have all submitted before the holiday break!

CBT simulation is being conducted from January 16-January 26, 2024

Contact Tracy Angelini if you have any questions.