Five World Languages Assessments Approved for 4+1 Pathway to Graduation

The State Education Department has approved five assessments that may serve as the Languages Other Than English (LOTE) 4+1 pathway assessment option for graduation, Commissioner MaryEllen Elia announced today. Under the 4+1 pathway assessment option, students must take and pass four required Regents Exams or Department-approved alternative assessments (one in each of English, math, science, and social studies) and a comparably rigorous assessment for the fifth required exam to graduate. The Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and the New York City Department of Education submitted these assessments, which are approved for 2018 and will assess students in Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish.

“With the approval of these assessments, New York State is leading the way in new, innovative pathways that not only preserve our robust graduation requirements but also offer students rigorous alternatives that will keep them engaged in learning and result in more career prospects,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “We must strive to ensure that all students have access to a myriad of graduation opportunities, regardless of where they are from.”

“These additional pathway assessments are an excellent way to promote the kinds of knowledge and skills that students need for success in the global economy,” Commissioner Elia said. “We hope and expect that this will encourage school districts to invest in high-quality world languages programs.”

“These assessments reflect the high standards to which all New York State assessments are held,” Deputy Commissioner for the Office of P-12 Instructional Support Angelica Infante-Green said. “They will provide students with a real choice for their pathway to graduation and we are delighted to provide broader options to students of New York State”.

The Department conducted extensive reviews of each assessment prior to their approval to ensure that these LOTE pathway assessments:

• are of sufficient rigor;
• are recognized by the field;
• are aligned with current practice;
• meet requirements for validity and reliability; and
• are available to all New York State schools and districts.

Information about the review process can be found on the Multiple Pathways website.

For information about the Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish assessments that have been approved from Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, please contact Greg Smith at GSmith@oneida-boces.org, and for information on the Spanish assessment that has been approved from New York City, please contact NYC DOE at worldlanguages@schools.nyc. For general information about the 4+1 pathway assessment options for graduation, please contact emscgradreq@nysed.gov.