New York Performance Standards Consortium
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A better way to assess student learning

The New York Performance Standards Consortium was founded over two decades ago on the belief that there was a better way to assess student learning than dependence upon standardized testing.

Instead of basing a student’s future on a one-day (or two- or three-day) test, an assessment system should reflect a fuller picture of what students know and can do.

The Consortium’s system is based on in-depth literacy, mathematical problem-solving, application of the scientific method, social studies research, a span of mediums for exhibiting learning, and a chance for students to have a voice and proud ownership of their work.

Our performance assessment Model
Consortium Core Values
New Report: "Where Thinking Thrives"
 
 

What Consortium Students Say

Our Schools

Our 38 public high schools serve over 12,000 students who reflect the diversity of the NY public school system. Consortium member schools have a waiver that allows them to graduate students using our performance assessment system in place of most Regents exams. This allows Consortium schools to implement innovative curriculum and assessments across disciplines.

More About Our Schools
More about Our Impact
 

Featured Videos

“It’s Where I Belong” — Consortium alumni-staff share why they came back to teach at Consortium schools.

Consortium 25th Anniversary Celebration Video

Consortium Student Panel: Experience, advice, & reflections from Consortium students.

“Math is a Problem”
Helping Students Become Mathematical Thinkers

How Performance Assessment Works
Science PBAT Oral Defense

 

Recent News

Featured
My high school is exempt from Regents exams. Other schools should be, too.

“Consortium schools raise the bar… As a New York state commission mulls eliminating the Regents as a graduation requirement, I want them to know that my peers are some of the most brilliant, responsible, and upstanding people I have ever met. Our high school experience has taught us to be free and independent thinkers. We are more than prepared for college and beyond. I wish all New York City public school students had the opportunities that we do.”

- Alexander Calafiura, a junior at East Side Community High School in New York City writes ChalkBeat about finding a high school that prioritizes student life, learning, and extracurricular pursuits over standardized testing.

As state rethinks grad requirements, a group of NYC schools offers lessons on swapping out Regents

"For most of its history, the consortium has attracted fervent support from its students, parents, and educators, but has operated largely under the radar for most families and policymakers. That may be changing now as the state reaches a crucial point in a yearslong effort to rethink graduation requirements, casting a new spotlight on performance-based assessment and the work of the consortium.”

- Michael Elsen-Roony, ChalkBeat

The Consortium-CUNY Admissions Pilot: Assessing College Readiness Through Authentic Student Work

“This small pilot has opened an institution-wide conversation about admission criteria, racial/economic equity, and academic success in one of the largest urban systems of higher education in the country“ Read More…

- Michelle Fine & Karyna Priyomka with The Learning Policy Institute (July 2020)

Solving NYC's Math Problem

“Students from Consortium schools led groups of adults through the thinking process for tackling challenging problems of mathematics and clearly impressed all who attended.” Read More…

- Phyllis Tashlik, New York Daily News (Jul. 2022)

Upcoming & Recent Events

Conference 2025 Plenary Video
Connections: Core Values, Community, Collaboration

 
 

Resources For Educators

Rubrics & Protocols

Center For Inquiry

Student Work

Collective Curricula

Professional Development Events
Jobs in Consortium Schools