How much do the New York State ELA and Math Tests matter?
It is Spring, which means testing season is upon us. Schools differ greatly in their approaches to testing, the amount of time spent in classrooms preparing, and their messaging to families on the importance of the exams. The conflicting philosophies and chatter around the exams leads to questions, and, often, conflicting feelings for parents. We are here to outline some facts and break down the purpose of these tests and how they impact your child’s education.
How are New York State Standardized Test Score Used?
The NYS Math and ELA state tests are used to measure how schools, districts, and the overall state are progressing within the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards. These “Next Gen” standards outline the skills and content knowledge students are expected to master by the end of their current grade. The score therefore “counts” for schools and districts, but not for individual students. More specifically here is how scores can and can’t be used for your individual child…
Students’ test scores CAN’T be used:
to influence admissions decisions to any NYC middle or high schools (including screened schools)
as significant cause for holding a child back
as grading criteria on student report cards
Students’ test scores CAN be used:
to make instructional decisions, such as small groups within a classroom
to make school-wide class decisions, such as intervention or advanced class placement
The test results are not released until the following school year (usually around August-September). Therefore, your child’s score will not influence your child’s instruction for the current school year. However, schools (or even districts) may choose to use scores of previous years as a way to group students or place them in certain classes. If you are curious exactly how your child’s school is using the scores, it is best to directly ask!
So, Why do the New York State Standardized Tests matter?
Even though your child’s score does not significantly impact their schooling or educational outcomes, there is still value in understanding how your child performed. The score will be broken up into (very) general categories, and, therefore, provide an easy data point to frame questions for your child’s teacher or flag any areas of concern.
More generally, whether you agree with “high stakes testing” or not, formal evaluations are a reality of our education system, and it is important for students to gain familiarity and comfortability with testing environments. Framing the tests for students as a chance to practice and learn about themselves as test-takers can help them benefit from the experience, rather than it default to a source of stress and anxiety. Furthermore, starting in 2026, all New York State tests will be computer-based, so exposing elementary and middle school students to this new format is particularly valuable.
Still have questions? Want to talk through your state test approach for your child? BetterEd is here to help. You know your child, we know education. Sign up for a consultation below or contact us for more information.