Breaking news from NYSED:
NYS’s request from the U.S. Dept. of Education for a waiver of all grade 3-8 standardized testing and June Regents requirements has been denied. Schools will be administering math, ELA and science tests, as well as the ESL and the NYS Alternative Assessment to those students who need them. Four Regents will also be given in June (Algebra 1, Living Environment, Earth Science and English), but all August Regents are canceled. Results of all tests will only be used to determine learning levels and districts have the discretion whether to use the scores to determine grades. Remote students are exempt from the tests, as no child can be forced to enter a school building when they have opted to remain at home for learning during the pandemic. Please see the attached link for more information.
http://www.nysed.gov/news/2021/statement-chancellor-lester-w-young-jr-and-commissioner-betty-rosa-usde-denial-assessment
NYSED’s response to USDE Denial of Assessment Waiver Request
National PTA Position Statements:
National PTA’s Distance and Remote Learning Position Statement
National PTA’s Position Statement on the Reopening of Schools
New York State Education Department:
Commissioner Betty A. Rosa
NYS Next Generation Learning Standards
NYSED Recent News
NYS Department of Health Interim Guidance for Schools
Federal Laws that Protect Student Data:
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – The foundational federal law on the privacy of students’ educational records, FERPA safeguards student privacy by limiting who may access student records, specifying for what purpose they may access those records, and detailing what rules they have to follow when accessing the data.
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) – PPRA defines the rules states and school districts must follow when administering tools like surveys, analysis, and evaluations funded by the US Department of Education to students. It requires parental approval to administer many such tools and ensures that school districts have policies in place regarding how the data collected through these tools can be used.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) – COPPA imposes certain requirements on operators of websites, games, mobile apps or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age.