NYC Teaching Fellows

NYC Teaching Fellows 2017 TESTING GUIDE

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Using this Guide

We are thrilled you have enrolled in our 2017 Summer Cohort and are excited to work with you as you start your journey as a NYC Teaching Fellow. As a Fellow, you will work with our office, the New York State Education Department, and your assigned university to receive certification in NY State. This Testing Guide will help you prepare to take your New York State teaching certification exams, which are required for you to enter the classroom this fall. This guide includes an outline of your next steps, important timelines for your exams, and resources to help you prepare. We have also included information about the GRE General Test which is a requirement for your university enrollment. Once you have completed all requirements and submitted documentation to New York State, you will be issued a Transitional B Certificate. This certificate enables you to teach as a full-time appointed teacher while completing your master's degree, and is valid for up to three years provided you remain in good standing with the program. In addition to this guide, stay tuned for updates and reminders from our office leading up to pre-service training and your final testing deadline(s). These resources are provided to help you stay organized and up-to-date on all requirements as you begin your teaching career with the NYC Department of Education.

"As teachers we are able to positively influence many generations to come. In order for us to be successful at this, it is necessary to work hard to be prepared. I would tell all Fellows going through the process that it may be challenging and require a lot of hard work. However, our work will continue the positive cycle and pay it forward." -Raven Moore, Cohort 12 NYC Teaching Fellow

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Information on the Teacher Certification Exams

As an alternative certification candidate, you will receive an entry-level certificate, known as a Transitional B certificate, while completing your master's degree. This certificate is valid for up to three years if a Fellow remains in good standing with the program. Upon completion of your master's degree and additional state requirements, you will be eligible to apply for an Initial Certificate to continue your career as a teacher.

Required Exams

As we previewed in your Welcome Guide, NY State regulations require you pass a series of certification exams in order to be eligible for a Transitional B Certificate. These exams include the Educating All Students (EAS) and at least one Content Specialty Test (CST). Due to the challenging nature of some exams, the Board of Regents has also created temporary safety nets for the EAS and some CSTs. Additional information about safety nets for specific exams can be found in the tables below.

Please note, candidates for teacher certification in New York State will no longer be required to take and pass the ALST (Academic Literacy Skills Test) for certification as of March 14, 2017.

Test

Description

Safety Net Information

Educating All Students (EAS)

Measures the professional and pedagogical knowledge and skills necessary to teach all students effectively in New York State public schools.

The safety net sets the passing score from the original 520 to 500. Please click here for more information.

Cost** Design and Framework

$102

EAS Test Design and Framework

Study Guide

Content Specialty Test(s) (CST)*

These exams measure knowledge and skills in the content area of a candidate's field of certification. The exact exam that Fellows must take is determined by their subject certification area.

Varies based on the exam Please see below

$119$328

See below

*The CST exam(s) you are required to take will depend on your subject area. For more information on the tests that you are required to take, please refer to the chart below. **Fees are subject to change and are determined by NYSTCE. All indicated fees are for computer-based testing.

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Content Specialty Test(s)

While all Fellows must take the EAS, which CST(s) you take depends on the subject area you are assigned to teach. Please refer to the table below to find out which CST exam(s) are required for your subject area.

Additionally, the Board of Regents has approved a set of safety nets for re-developed CST exams including English, Math, Spanish and the Multi-Subject (Teachers of Childhood) exams. The safety net allows you to choose to take either the safety net (old version) CST or the redeveloped CST. Where applicable, we have included information about the safety nets below, but please visit the NYSTCE website for more information on how to prepare.

Your Assigned Subject Area Biology/Biology Immersion Chemistry/Chemistry Immersion Earth Science

English

English as a Second Language (K-12)

Math/ Math Immersion

Physics Spanish

Common Branch Bilingual Education

(1-6)

Content Specialty Test(s) ? Name and Number

Biology (006)

Chemistry (007)

Earth Science (008)

English Language Arts (003)

ESL Fellows may take and pass any CST offered by NYSTCE to meet the requirements for Transitional B certification. To find a list of all CST exams, please click here. Mathematics (004)

Physics (009)

Spanish (129)

Multi-Subject: Teachers of Childhood (Grades 1-6)

Safety Net (If

Applicable)

Safety Net English (903)

Safety Net Math (904)

Safety Net Spanish (020) Safety Net Multi-

Test Design and Study Material

Test Framework Preparation Guide Test Framework Preparation Guide Test Framework Preparation Guide Test Framework Study Guide Safety Net Prep Material

Test Framework Study Guide Formula Sheet Safety Net Prep Material Test Framework Preparation Guide Test Framework Safety Net Prep Material

Test Framework Study Guide

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Special Education ? Moderate/Severe (1-

6)

Special Education (712)

Special Education (712) ? Bilingual Extension

Special Education ? Moderate/Severe (7-

12) Special Education (7-

12) ? English Extension

Special Education (712) - Social Studies

Extension

Part 1: Literacy and English Language Arts (221)

Part 2: Mathematics (222) Part 3: Arts and Sciences

(245)

Multi-Subject: Secondary Teachers (Grades 7-12)

Part 1: Literacy and English Language Arts (241)

Part 2: Mathematics (242) Part 3: Arts and Sciences

(245)

Subject (902)

Formula Sheet (For Part 2) Safety Net Prep Material

Test Framework Study Guide: Parts 1&2 Study Guide: Part 3 Formula Sheet (For Part 2)

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Timelines to Register and Take Your Certification Exams

Our students deserve the very best and brightest educators. New York State's certification exams set a high bar for success. To ensure that you receive your Transitional B certification before the start of the school year, you must have passing scores for all required certifications exams by August 23, 2017.

Given the challenging nature of these exams and the amount of time it takes to receive a score report, we require that you test early enough to have the opportunity to test twice, if needed. The deadline for all Fellows to test is May 23, 2017 for the CST exam and June 16, 2017 for the EAS exam. To register now, click here.

Below, please find a timeline that represents the latest dates possible to register for and take exams while remaining in good standing as a Fellow.

Please note that the timeline above provides you with one opportunity to retake each exam before the final August 23 deadline. As you begin planning for testing, we wanted to share a few important considerations that we took into account when developing the timelines above. We hope that this information helps you strategize about when to take your exams and determine your study plan.

Seat Availability: NYSTCE computer-based testing is available year-round by appointment, Monday through Saturday (excluding some holidays) at test centers located across the United States and at select international locations. We recommend that you register for the exams at least 30 days before your desired exam date, as seats at testing centers are often difficult to secure, especially in the spring. If you are unable to find seats at your desired testing center, please consider other nearby testing centers in the area.

Score Reporting: Scores are reported according to the NY State score reporting schedule. Score reporting is limited, particularly for CST exams, and you may be required to wait over two months to receive your scores. This score reporting schedule may also affect the number of opportunities that you have to re-take and pass your exams before the August 23, 2017 testing deadline.

Re-taking Exams: As per the guidelines and regulations set out by NY State, you can only take most CSTs once every 60 days and the EAS exam once every 30 days. While we encourage you to study and set yourself up to pass the exam on your first attempt, should you need to retake the exam, testing early ensures these wait times will not interfere.

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Preparing to Take your Certification Exams

As we mentioned earlier, the NY State certification exams are rigorous, and you should plan to spend ample time preparing for each exam. In addition to the study guides and frameworks linked above, we have pulled together resources from the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) website, as well as resources that past Fellows have found helpful when preparing for their certification exams.

We highly recommend that you access these materials to begin to familiarize yourself with the exams in advance of the release of further test preparation materials.

Exam EAS

CST

Resources for Independent Study

City University of New York's EAS Overview Webinar Barron's NYSTCE 4th Edition Study Guide NYCTF Webinar When watching the webinar, you will need to access the following material, which we recommend reviewing as pre-work. EAS Rubric Constructed Response Practice Practice Test Practice Test Answer Key

Please review the test design and framework, as well as the preparation material provided by NYSTCE for your exam(s).

For the Multi-Subject CST (Parts 1 and 2), NYCTF will be providing self-study resources and webinars to help you prepare. (Details provided below).

Test Prep Workshops and Webinars

Given the limited study material available to prepare for the Multi Subject exams as well as the unavailability of a Safety Net exam, the NYC Teaching Fellows will be offering test preparation courses for Parts 1 and 2 of the Multi-Subject CST (7-12).

The resources for the Math component have been designed specifically for Part 2 of the Multi-Subject Secondary CST exam (242). However, if you are scheduled to take the Mathematics (004) or Multi-Subject 1-6 (222) CST exams, we believe you may also find the content useful.

All test preparation courses will be offered virtually via MyPortal, the official online platform utilized by the NYC Teaching Fellows program. During the course, participants will engage with self-study material aligned to competencies outlined in the test design and framework for this exam and participate in webinars addressing the most challenging components of the exams. Courses will be available starting in mid-February, and webinars will begin in March and continue until May 2017.

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A more detailed schedule will be available within the coming weeks. We will also record these webinars and make them available to you in case you are unable to attend.

While participation in these courses is optional, we encourage you to review the content of your required exams as soon as possible to help you prepare and determine where you need additional support. This will help you determine which test prep webinars or workshops to attend.

Please note, these sessions are intended to supplement your individual course of study and are not intended to be the primary source of test prep. We encourage you to continue using all available resources to study for your certification exams in order to be fully prepared.

Additional Test Prep Workshops from Our Partners

Starting in March 2017, you will have the opportunity to attend free, in-person test prep workshops organized by NYC Men Teach.

The NYC Men Teach initiative was created to inspire more men of color to become teachers in NYC and infuse New York City public schools with teachers that reflect the vast diversity of the city, with the aim of making a difference in the lives of students who are not accustomed to seeing themselves represented in the front of the class.

These workshops are open to all Fellows and will include the following topics aligned to specific certification exams.

Topic

Exams

Algebra I, II

Math CST (004) Multi-Subject Part 2 (222, 242)

Calculus

Math CST (004) Multi-Subject Part 2 (222, 242)

Statistics

Math CST (004) Multi-Subject Part 2 (222, 242)

Reading/ Writing Multi-Subject Part 1 (221, 241) English Language Arts (003)

For a schedule of upcoming workshops and details on how to register please click here.

"Completing your paperwork and testing is the first step on your journey to really make a difference. While it can be daunting, remember that this is a necessary step for you to complete so that you can enter the classroom. Be organized, confident, and persistent to make the process a bit smoother."

-Catherine Calogero, Cohort 23 NYC Teaching Fellow

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