Summer 2024
Dear Superintendent,
In light of the discontinuation of state-published exams, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has provided guidance for the development of local exams. According to the NYSED LOTE FAQs (page 9), these locally developed exams can be utilized similarly to those previously provided by NYSED. Specifically, students must pass a locally developed Checkpoint A Exam, in addition to successfully completing two units of study, to earn one unit of high school credit in 8th grade. Additionally, passing a locally developed Checkpoint B Exam, along with earning three units of credit, is required for students to obtain a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation.
To support districts in meeting these graduation requirements, NYSAWLA annually develops and administers regional Checkpoint A and Checkpoint B exams in the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL, Checkpoint A only). The FLACS exams are currently administered in over 200 schools statewide.
As you consider joining the Exam Consortium this year, please note the following important details:
- Exam Administration Date and Time: For security reasons, participating districts must adhere to a common date and time for administering the exams. We follow the NYSED recommended date for locally developed assessments, as listed in the June 2025 Examination Schedule. This year, the FLACS exams will be administered on Monday, June 23, 2025. The Checkpoint A exam will take place in the morning (2 hours), and the Checkpoint B exam will be held in the afternoon (3 hours). If your district is unable to adhere to this administration date, you will not be able to participate in the consortium this year.
- Exam Descriptions: For detailed descriptions of the exams, please click [HERE].
- Item Development: Participating districts are encouraged to contribute to the development of test items by allowing teachers to attend item-writing workshops and/or submit items developed at the district level. All items will undergo field testing.
- Exam Security: Passwords to access the exams will be provided to the Superintendent’s designee prior to the exam date to allow sufficient time for reproduction and secure storage until the exams are administered.
- Submission of Exam Results: We request that participating districts submit exam results to the FLACS Exam Database. Links to the database will be provided after the exams have been administered.
- Make-Up Exams: Similar to NYSED exams, make-up exams or alternate administration dates will not be permitted.
- Special Language Exams: To obtain exams in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew, please contact the following:
- Latin: Brian Serwicki at brian.serwicki@gmail.com
- Greek: Maria Makedon at mm@goarch.org
- Hebrew: Shelley Hill at shill@thejewisheducationproject.org
Once a member of your organization joins NYSAWLA and the membership fee is paid, your district will automatically be enrolled in our Exam Consortium and granted access to our exams.
We look forward to collaborating with you.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Balsamo
President, NYSAWLA
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@nysawla.org.
revised 8/25/2024