NYSUT Information
Regulations and Graduation Requirements for World Languages
The Board of Regents adopted the revised New York State Learning Standards for Languages Other Than English (LOTE) on Monday, March 15, 2021. The revisions align the standards with both the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages and high-leverage practices and update them to represent what students should know and be able to do in the languages and cultures which they study.
The unit of diploma credit can be earned by any one of the following:
- Successfully completing two units of study and passing a locally developed examination that is aligned to the Checkpoint A Learning Standards prior to grade 9 (8 NYCRR § 100.2[d][5]);
- Passing a yearlong grade 8 accelerated program of study and passing a locally developed examination that is aligned to the Checkpoint A Learning Standards (8 NYCRR § 100.4[d][1-2]);
- Successful completion of a bilingual education program in any grade 8-12 (Freeborne Memo, 1987);
- Demonstrated mastery of learning outcomes as set forth in a New York State developed or locally developed syllabus for a given high school course of study in a World Language after a student has had the opportunity to complete a unit of study in grades 9-12 (8 NYCRR § 100.1[b]);
Note: Once a student enters 9th grade, a Checkpoint A examination is no longer necessary to earn a unit of credit. The only requirement is the successful completion of a unit of study anytime during grades 9-12.
- Transfer credit for work done at other educational and cultural institutions (8 NYCRR § 100.5[d][5]);
- Independent study (8 NYCRR § 100.5[d][9]);
Note: “Credit for independent study may be awarded for elective courses only and shall not be awarded for the one required credit necessary for the Regents diploma”. (See section “v” under “Credit for Independent Study”)
- Online and blended courses (8 NYCRR § 100.5[d][10]);
- Transfer credit for work done through study abroad (8 NYCRR § 100.5 [f]);
- Documented school attendance and residence in an “other than English-speaking" environment (Freeborne Memo, 1987) ;
- Making up an incomplete or failed course credit and demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes in World Languages through, but not limited to, repeating an entire course, a summer school program, receiving intensive instruction in the deficiency area or digital learning (online study) (8 NYCRR § 100.5[d][8]).
World Languages Graduation Requirements for:
Regents Diploma
Students shall earn at least one unit of credit in a language other than English in order to complete the language other than English requirement for the Regents diploma (8 NYCRR § 100.5[b][7][iv][g]).
Students identified as having a disability may be excused from the one unit of credit in LOTE if indicated on their Individual Education Program (IEP) but must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation
Students choosing a World Language sequence to meet the Advanced Designation requirements shall earn two additional units in a language other than English for a total of three units and pass the locally developed Comprehensive examination in that language which is aligned to the Checkpoint B Learning Standards for World Languages (8 NYCRR § 100.5[b][7][v][c]).
Students identified as having a disability may be excused from the LOTE credit requirement if indicated on their Individual Education Program (IEP) but must still earn 22 units of credit to graduate.
Information was taken from NYSED’s FAQ (to be updated in 2022)
Name Change (LOTE to World Languages)
The Board of Regents adopted a regulation change to rename the learning standards from LOTE to “World Languages” at their July 2021 meeting following a public comment on the proposed changes.
The regulation changes include:
- Renaming the standards to “New York State Standards for World Languages,” which amends Commissioner’s regulations to replace the term “languages other than English” with “world languages” in reference to the learning standards, pathway assessment, and course credit;
- Renaming teaching certificate titles, as well as certification and teacher preparation program coursework requirements from “language(s) other than English” to “world language(s) other than English,” and the tenure title of “Foreign Languages” to “World Languages”;
- Amending references to the term “foreign languages” throughout Commissioner’s regulations to read “world languages” or “world languages other than English,” as applicable; and
- Clarifying that teachers currently in the foreign languages tenure area would now be in the world languages tenure area, and any prior service in the foreign languages tenure area is included toward service in the renamed world languages tenure area.
Revised NYS Learning Standards for World Languages
Implementation Process and Timeline
Proficiency Ranges & Performance Indicators (2021)
Unit Planning Guidance
Assessment (Checkpoint A & B)
Districts/schools have the option to join other schools in a consortium to develop Checkpoint A and B level examinations; they can design their own as a school or district; or adopt a vendor-made assessment.
The locally developed Checkpoint A Second Language Proficiency Examination and the Checkpoint B Comprehensive Examination in a World Language should:
- reflect the content and format of the previously available State developed Checkpoint A and Checkpoint B assessments;
- assess speaking, listening, reading, and writing using a format that is as rigorous as the previously available State-developed Checkpoint A and Checkpoint B assessment;
- align with the State's Checkpoint A and Checkpoint B Learning Standards for World Languages respectively; and
- reflect the learning outcomes of the State's syllabi, including the Modern Language for Communication, American Sign Language for Communication, and Latin for the 21st Century.
Sample NYS Proficiency and Regents examinations are available as a reference on the OBEWL site.
4+1 World Languages Pathway
4+1 Pathway exams in world languages are now available in 7 languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Korean, and Spanish. These are special Checkpoint B exams that, when passed, fulfill the world language exam requirement of the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation AND can be used as the fifth Regents Examination required for graduation. For more information on these 4+1 Pathway examinations in world languages, please visit this site.
Assessments on the Listing of Department Approved World Language Assessments each have a Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing component. A description of each test can be found in the column next to the name of the approved assessment.
Professional Learning Opportunities
NYS Seal of Biliteracy