ELEMENTARY LEVEL (PreK-K)
(Section 100.3 of NYCRR)
Each school shall provide an educational program
based on and adapted to the needs, ages, and
interests of the students that includes:
Learning activities:
• development of communication skills and
exposure to literature;
• dramatic play, creative art and music activities;
• participation in group projects, discussion, and
games;
• science and mathematical experiences; and
• large-muscle activities in prekindergarten and
instruction in physical education and health
education in kindergarten.
Elements of early literacy programs:
• use of reading to obtain meaning from print;
• frequent and intensive opportunities to read for
learning and for pleasure;
• activities that teach regular spelling-sound
relationships;
• learning about the nature of the alphabet writing
system; and
• understanding the structure of spoken words.
I I I I I
N o t e :
Schools shall develop procedures to actively
involve each child’s parents or guardians in the
educational program.
ELEMENTARY LEVEL (1-6)
(Section 100.3 of NYCRR)
Instruction:
Schools shall provide instruction designed to enable
students to attain the State learning standards in:
• mathematics, science, and technology;
• English language arts, including reading, writing,
listening, and speaking for purposes of information
and understanding, literary response and
expression, critical analysis and evaluation, and
social interaction, with attention given to
comprehension, vocabulary, word study, spelling,
grammar, usage, and punctuation;
• social studies, including geography and United
States history;
• languages other than English;*
• the arts, including visual arts, music, dance, and
theatre;
• career development and occupational studies; and
• health education, physical education, and family
and consumer sciences.
Where student need is established, instruction in
bilingual education or English as a second language
shall be provided.
Assessments:
Elementary-level assessments aligned to the State
learning standards are administered in grade 4 in English
language arts, mathematics, and science, and in grade 5
in social studies (beginning November 2001).
I I I I I
N o t e :
There are no required time allocations for the
various subjects in PreK-6, except for physical
education (see Section 135.4(c) of the
Commissioner’s Regulations).
* Students who complete Checkpoint A and 2 units of study
in a language other than English no later than the end of
grade 8 must pass the second language proficiency exam in
order to earn 1 unit of credit toward the high school diploma
(Section 100.2(d) of NYCRR).