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Dear Colleague:
During the past four years, our school system has developed, published
and disseminated the New York City editions of the New Standards™
Performance Standards for Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and
Primary Literacy. Teachers and administrators across the City have used
the standards to focus their on-going professional development, set goals,
plan for effective instruction and monitor and assess student performance.
The document you now hold, the New York City Edition of the Applied
Learning Standards, supports the next critical step in defining further
what our students need to know and be able to do; and it completes our
multi-year plan for establishing rigorous standards across our system.
The publication of the Applied Learning Standards offers new challenges
and new opportunities for us to connect the work students do in school
with the world in which they live and the demands and requirements of
the workplace which they will face in the future. Effective use of these
standards will enable students to apply their knowledge and skills to
analyze problems, propose solutions, communicate effectively and use the
tools of our rapidly-changing world and workplace.
These standards are based on the important findings reported in the Secretary’s
Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) and the New York
State Career Development and Occupational Standards (C-DOS). Citywide
leaders from business, industry, the arts and informal science institutions
have participated in the development and review process. In addition,
representatives from all corners of the New York City educational community
met regularly during the past two years to customize the collection of
student work samples contained in this publication.
Our discussions must now turn to making the goal of achieving these standards
a reality. It is only through the combined efforts of the entire school
system that we can and will make it possible for all students to reach
high academic standards. It is my sincere hope that in your capable hands
the Applied Learning Standards will serve as an effective tool in helping
our students realize their full potential, as they prepare to assume their
roles as future leaders and productive members and shapers of our society.
Sincerely,
Judith A. Rizzo
Deputy Chancellor for Instruction
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