Evaluating Foreign Transcripts: TheA-Z Manual

Evaluating Foreign Transcripts:

The A-Z Manual

THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

J O E L I . K L E I N , Chancellor Michele Cahill

Senior Counselor to the Chancellor for Education Policy Office of Youth Development and School-Community Services

52 Chambers Street, Room 320, New York, NY 10007

Dear Principals and Counselors,

The New York City public schools in many ways embody the new, truly global city. Young people and their families come here from over 175 countries and speak more than 140 languages.

Newly arriving families face many difficult challenges in adapting to the demands of their new environment, and teenagers are no exception. Engaging these students, helping them overcome obstacles and participate fully in earning a high school diploma in a timely manner are all important objectives of the New York City Department of Education. School staff face challenges as well in providing a smooth transition between the student's native country and their new environment here in the United States. Therefore, school officials must be provided with the proper tools to understand and translate the knowledge and skills acquired in students' home countries in order to be able to properly place students in the appropriate grade and courses in their new school. Given the various differences between the systems used around the world, assessing educational credentials can be a daunting process. Evaluating Foreign Transcripts: The A-Z Manual provides guidelines specifically to support staff in completing this process.

We all share the goal of high academic achievement for young people in this city ? whether they were born here or arrived yesterday. I would like to thank everyone involved in this process for their hard work and contributions in reaching this goal.

Michele Cahill Senior Counselor to the Chancellor for Education Policy

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Foreword

The Office of Youth Development and School-Community Services (OYDSCS) of the New York City Department of Education (DOE) intend this document, Evaluating Foreign Transcripts: The A-Z Manual, as a reference tool for High School Principals and counselors. This manual includes guidelines and additional resources for assisting school staff members with evaluation of foreign transcripts. When using this manual it is important to keep in mind that several school systems and grading policies might exist within each country, as in the United States. Careful judgment and discretion are advised when utilizing the information presented in this manual. The information provides a general picture of the most commonly used systems in other countries and grading scales, recommended courses, and the equivalent credit within the U.S. Public School System. Evaluators are advised to:

Carefully examine all official documents for authenticity. Ensure that translations are provided by a qualified source. Interview entering students and their parents/guardians. Contact the sending school, embassy, Ministry of Education or other authorized

agencies when necessary. Consult with available resources provided by Central OYDSCS and your

Regional Office of Student Placement, Youth, & Family Support Services (SPYFSS). Participate in professional development sessions arranged by Central OYDSCS and Regional SPYFSS of the New York City Department of Education.

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