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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

Cost** Design and

Framework

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.

$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

Content Specialty Test(s) – Name

and Number

Safety Net

(If

Applicable)

Test Design and Study

Material

Biology/Biology

Immersion

Biology (006) Test Framework

Preparation Guide

Chemistry/Chemistry

Immersion

Chemistry (007) Test Framework

Preparation Guide

Earth Science Earth Science (008) Test Framework

Preparation Guide

English English Language Arts (003)

Safety Net

English

(903)

Test Framework

Study Guide

Safety Net Prep Material

English as a Second

Language (K-12)

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.

Math/ Math

Immersion

Mathematics (004) Safety Net

Math (904)

Test Framework

Study Guide

Formula Sheet

Safety Net Prep Material

Physics Physics (009) Test Framework

Preparation Guide

Spanish Spanish (129) Safety Net

Spanish

(020)

Test Framework

Safety Net Prep Material

Common Branch

Bilingual Education

(1-6)

Multi-Subject: Teachers of

Childhood (Grades 1-6)

Safety Net

Multi-

Test Framework

Study Guide

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Special Education –

Moderate/Severe (1-

6)

Part 1: Literacy and English

Language Arts (221)

Part 2: Mathematics (222)

Part 3: Arts and Sciences

(245)

Subject

(902)

Formula Sheet (For Part 2)

Safety Net Prep Material

Special Education (7-

12)

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)

Test Framework

Study Guide: Parts 1&2

Study Guide: Part 3

Formula Sheet (For Part 2)

Special Education (7-

12) – Bilingual

Extension

Special Education –

Moderate/Severe (7-

12)

Special Education (7-

12) – English

Extension

Special Education (7-

12) - Social Studies

Extension

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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 Resources for Independent Study

EAS 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

CST 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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Information on the GRE General Test

Overview

In accordance with state law, all applicants to a graduate-level teacher education program must submit

GRE (Graduate Record Exam) General Test scores in order to be admitted to the program. As a result of

this law, you are required to take the GRE General Test before enrolling in a subsidized master’s degree

program at one of our partner universities. If you received your offer to join NYC Teaching Fellows before

April 18, you must take the GRE by May 1, 2017 in order to be eligible for the master’s degree program

at one of our university partners. If you received your offer to join NYC Teaching Fellows program after

April 18, we have worked with universities to extend your deadline to take the GRE to May 12, 2017.

Please register for a computer based test to ensure that your scores are released to your assigned

university in a timely manner.

Exam Registration and Fees

For more information about how to register, please click here. The fee associated with registration is $205.

Before you register, we encourage you to learn about the GRE Fee Reduction Program to find out if you

qualify for a fee reduction voucher or certificate.

GRE scores are valid for 5 years. You will not be required to re-test if you have taken the GRE within 5

years of the start of pre-service training. For more information, click here.

Score Requirements

The universities that we partner with do not have a minimum GRE score requirement. Your score on the

exam will have no bearing on your candidacy for admissions at one of our partner universities. As a

result, we encourage you to prioritize studying for your teacher certification exams (EAS, CST(s)).

Information on preparing for these exams is available on page 5 of this guide.

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Access to MyPortal

MyPortal is the official online platform of the NYC Teaching Fellows program. You will visit this platform

for key resources, including your enrollment resources and pre-work, as well as special announcements

designed to provide you with the strong foundation you need to hit the ground running this summer! You

will use this system throughout the spring and summer to access important resources related to testing,

hiring and pre-service training. Prior to the start of PST, you will also complete some online coursework on

MyPortal. Stay tuned for more information about your online coursework – this will be provided in your

NYCTF Onboarding Guide.

Login instructions for MyPortal will be sent directly to your Teacher Track Message Center within the next

few weeks. We encourage you to log in frequently (at least weekly) for new resources, reminders and

announcements.

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Next Steps

By May 2017: Register for your certification exams (EAS, CST). Please refer to page 4 for

more information about which CST exam to register for based on your subject area. To begin

the registration process, please click here. When registering for your exams on the NYSTCE

website, please ensure that you choose to have your scores released to the New York City

Teaching Fellows program.

By May 1, 2017: Take the GRE General Test. If you received your offer to join NYC Teaching

Fellows program after April 18, we have worked with universities to extend your deadline to take

the GRE to May 12, 2017.

By May 23, 2017: Prepare for and take your CST certification exam. We recommend using

all available resources when preparing for your exam.

By June 16, 2017: Prepare for and take your EAS certification exam. Please see pages 7-8

for resources and tips to help you prepare.

By August 23, 2017: Receive passing scores for all certification exams. Once you complete

all requirements, your university will recommend you to NY State for certification. Please note,

your Transitional B Certificate will not be issued by the State until passing scores on all exams

are received. Please inform the NYCTF office of passing scores by uploading your score reports

to your Checklist on Teacher Track.

Best of Luck!