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New York State Science Education Webpages

This webpage houses links to science resources from other offices and departments within New York State.


The Office of Career and Technical Education

The Office of  Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide academic and technical instruction in the content areas of agriculture, business and marketing, family and consumer sciences, health sciences, trade and technical education, and technology education.

  • Integrated and Specialized Academics - As a part of NYSED-approved CTE program application process, schools can request approval to include integrated or specialized academic credit within a CTE program. Integrated and specialized courses are not required for NYSED program approval but are options that are available to approved programs. 

If you have any questions please email: EMSCCTE@nysed.gov.


The Office of ​Early Learning 

The Office of Early Learning (OEL) provides oversight and technical support to school districts in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and policies related to educating students in prekindergarten to third grade that are aligned with the NYS Board of Regents Early Childhood Policy. OEL supports the Office of Curriculum and Instruction in ensuring the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards, resource materials, and recommended best practices are developmentally appropriate for all students prekindergarten – Grade 3.

  • Resource Guides for School Success in Early Learning  

    The New York State Resource Guides for School Success in Early Learning are grade-specific resources (pre-k to grade 3) that consolidate all learning standards into one comprehensive document that provides a uniform format to make them easily accessible for teachers, specialists, administrators and parents. From a planning perspective, these documents highlight the importance of addressing children’s development and learning across all developmental domains. 

    Please note that these resources are not a curriculum, assessment, or set of teaching strategies but rather, resources for the learning that students should  accomplish by the end of  prekindergarten, kindergarten, first, and second grade. Users are encouraged to also review the full articulations of the New York State Learning Standards.

If you have any questions please email: OEL@nysed.gov.


The Office of State Assessment

The Office of State Assessment (OSA), formerly named the Office of Assessment Policy, Development and Administration (APDA), is responsible for the coordination, development, and implementation of the Grades 3-8 tests, Regents Examinations, Alternate Assessments and English Language Proficiency assessments that comprise the New York State Testing Program (NYSTP). These examinations are administered to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 enrolled in public, nonpublic, and charter schools throughout the State.

In carrying out its responsibilities, OSA develops and administers tests that are aligned with the New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum, are consistent with State and federal mandates, are statistically and psychometrically sound, and yield valuable information that enables the State Education Department to hold schools accountable for the education of all students. The OSA site also houses test schedules, test manuals, past science examinations, and other resources. 

The Office provides guidance on the NYSTP to school districts and the public and advises the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education as they shape New York State’s testing policies and procedures.

  • Elementary and Intermediate Level Science Tests - Through this link you can access the information regarding the elementary- and intermediate- level examinations in science that are aligned with the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS) and the 1996 NYS Mathematics and Science Learning Standards and Core Curriculum. 
  • High School- Regents Exams in Science - Through this link you can access the information regarding the Regents High School Examinations in Living Environment, Physical Setting/Earth Science, Physical Setting/Chemistry, and Physical Setting/Physics that are aligned with the 1996 NYS Mathematics and Science Learning Standards and Core Curriculum. Information regarding the science examinations at the high school level that are aligned with NYSSLS will be released once the information is available.

The Office is also responsible for the development and administration of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) with policy oversite by the Office of Higher Education.  The NYSTCE program provides all teacher and leadership certification examinations including the teacher performance assessment (edTPA), the Educating All Students (EAS) test, and specific content specialty tests (CST),  as well as all school leader assessments and the Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS). Members can obtain information on the current test dates for all certification examinations and may register for examinations on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. 

New York State Teacher Certification Examinations - Preparation Materials

If you have any questions please email: emscassessinfo@nysed.gov.


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created on July 1, 1970 to combine all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment into a single agency. DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment. Below are some of the many frequently used DEC links for NYS science educators and school administrators.

If you have any questions please email DEC at edprofdevel@dec.ny.gov.


New York State Museum

The New York State Museum (NYSM) serves the lifelong educational needs of New Yorkers and visitors through its collections, exhibitions, scholarship, programs, media and publications in science, history, anthropology, and art. The Museum explores and expresses New York State’s significant natural and cultural diversity, past and present and is a center of art, science, and history dedicated to exploring the human and natural history of the state. Established in 1836, it is the oldest and largest state museum in the country.

From its beginning, the Museum has been home to some of the nation’s leading scientists, including the founders of American paleontology, ethnology, botany and mycology. Its collections rank among the finest in many fields and total more than 16 million scientific specimens and one million cultural objects. Below are some of the frequently used links from the NYSM for NYS science educators and school administrators.

If you have any questions please email NYSM at nysmeducation@nysed.gov.


 

New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which were visited by a record 78.4 million people in 2021. Below are some helpful links for science educators and administrators:

  • The Connect-Kids-to-Parks Field Trip Grant Program (Connect Kids) is designed to connect students in New York State with nature and history. Each grant provides reimbursement of up to $80 per student (and $160 for Special Education students) for field trips to state and federal parks, forests, historic sites, fish hatcheries and outdoor recreation areas. There are over 300 eligible locations across the state.
  • Every-Kid-in-a-Park 4th Grade Free Entry Program -New York State Parks will accept the National Park Service's (NPS) Every-Kid-in-a Park pass upon presentation for free entry for 4th grade students into all State Parks. 
  • Virtual Nature Lessons - Nature is all around us. The NYS State Park environmental educators have compiled innovative ideas and creative activities to explore the outdoors near you. From searching for signs of spring to identifying bird songs, these activities connect you with the natural world without having to travel any further than your backyard, your neighborhood or an outdoor space close to your home.