State Assessments Information
This year’s New York State Assessments for grades 3-8 will be administered beginning with the English Language Arts assessment on April 20th – 22nd, and followed by the Math assessment on May 4th – 6th.
As a parent or guardian, if you choose to refuse your child's participation in the 2021 New York State assessments in grades 3 through 8, please contact your building administrator via email or written letter as soon as possible. In your correspondence, please include your child's name, grade level and the assessments they will not be participating in. This process must be completed on an annual basis, as prior requests will not apply to the current school year.
If you choose to not allow your child to participate after he or she has already completed a portion of the assessment, your child will receive a score.
As confirmation, you will receive a letter from the district with more detailed information about the procedures and protocols that will be in place during the test administration period.
A sample of this confirmation letter can be found by clicking the following link: New York State Assessment Refusal.
Elementary
Grades 3-5 English Language Arts Assessment
Tuesday, April 20th Grade 3
Wednesday, April 21st Grade 4
Thursday, April 22nd Grade 5
Grades 3-5 Mathematics Assessment
Tuesday, May 4th Grade 3
Wednesday, May 5th Grade 4
Thursday, May 6th Grade 5
Grade 4 Science Assessment
Monday, June 7th Grade 4 Only
Please Note: Drop off/pick up times for remote students who will be taking one of these assessments will be shared prior to the testing date.
Important Information Regarding NYS Assessments In Our Elementary Schools
If you have opted your child out of the assessments, you will receive a confirmation letter from your child’s school regarding your request. During the administration of the assessments, children who have opted out will remain in the classroom and be able to read/write quietly. If you choose to opt your child out, and keep your child home during the test, please have your child report to school no earlier than 11:15am that day. Due to COVID restrictions, it will not be possible to have students dropped off to wait in another area of the school while the class is testing.
If you are the parent of a child in our elementary remote program (third, fourth, or fifth grade) and you would like your child to take the assessments in school on the dates below, you will need to complete the registration form emailed to you. Please know all remote classes will be in session on the testing days.
Middle School
As a result of the data we received from a prior survey, the New York State Assessments in grades 6 – 8 will be administered in separate testing sites in both Candlewood and West Hollow Middle Schools. On the days listed below, all students participating in the in-person instructional model should report to their school and first period classes at the normal time. Once attendance has been taken, students participating in the NYS Assessments will be asked to report to the designated testing site for the duration of the test. All other students will remain in their classes and follow a normal schedule.
High School
Earlier this Spring, the New York State Education Department applied for two waivers that would have allowed for the elimination of all New York State Assessments. Both waiver requests were denied by the United States Department of Education, thereby requiring New York to administer all federally mandated exams. In June, the following Regents exams will be administered:
- English Language Arts- Thursday, June 17, 2021
- Living Environment- Tuesday, June 22, 2021
- Algebra I- Wednesday, June 23, 2021
- Earth Science- Thursday, June 24, 2021
Additionally, Half Hollow Hills will be administering a World Language Checkpoint B exam on Monday, June 21, 2021.
In response to the waiver denial, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has eliminated all Regents exam diploma requirements for the 2020 – 2021 school year. This decision effectively dictates that ALL STUDENTS who successfully earn course credit (pass the class) ARE EXEMPT from taking Regents exams this June, but MAY CHOOSE to participate if they feel it is in their best interest to do so. The New York State Education Department has also made the decision to not offer remote or online versions of these Regents exams. Together, those decisions require local school districts to establish practices that differ substantially from prior and future years. Please review the information below carefully with your child:
- All students currently enrolled in the courses listed above must decide if they will participate in the Regents exam associated with those courses. A survey will be sent out in the coming weeks to confirm participation.
- Regents exams will only be administered in-person. Remote students will have the ability to participate in these exams in-person if they choose.
- Students who earn course credit and choose not to participate in these exams will receive an “E” for “exempt” on their official transcripts next to the listed exam.
- Students enrolled in other Regents courses during the 2019 – 2020 and 2020 – 2021 school years will also receive an “E” next to the listed exams because they were not offered.
- If a student earns course credit and chooses to participate in a Regents exam, they may choose to have their score reported on their official transcript. A student may also choose to have an “E” listed on their transcript in place of their official score if they believe that to be in their best interest. (Note- All scores must be recorded and maintained in an official student record.)
- In Half Hollow Hills, Regents scores will only be counted towards a final course average if it is helpful to the student. Scores that are lower than the average of the four marking periods will not be counted.