Planning Templates & Guidance Documents
A curated collection of official NYSED guidance, research-backed articles from trusted educational organizations, and grant opportunities — organized by category to help your school or district find exactly what it needs.
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Plan Development — School Improvement Planning
NYSED guidance on assembling school improvement planning teams and developing comprehensive education plans.
Assembling Your School Improvement Planning Team
Guidance on identifying team members and building a diverse planning team that represents the school community.
NYS P-12 Learning Standards
Official NYSED overview of P-12 learning standards to align district strategy with state expectations.
NYS Graduation Requirements
Current graduation requirements for all public school students in New York State.
Graduation Measures Initiative (NY Inspires)
The Department's implementation plan for transformative education and revised graduation measures.
School District Strategy, Planning & Innovation
How ERS helps school districts design effective strategies centered on positive student outcomes and financial sustainability.
NYSED MTSS-I Overview
NYSED's curated MTSS-I resources for whole-child academic, behavioral, and social-emotional growth.
MTSS-I Center (OSE Educational Partnership)
The MTSS-I Center empowers education stakeholders with effective practices for improved student results.
State-Supported Evidence-Based Strategies
Systemic, evidence-based continuous school-improvement framework guidance grounded in MTSS.
Essential Components of MTSS
The four essential components of MTSS: screening, progress monitoring, multi-level prevention, and data-based decision making.
Evidence-Based Assessment Strategies (PLAN Program)
A practical guidebook for districts and schools in New York's Performance-based Learning and Assessment Networks.
Professional Learning and Growth
NYSED resources on what effective school leaders do and how LEAs can support them in this work.
Teaching and Educational Leadership Standards
The NYS Teaching Standards — essential knowledge and skills shown by research and best practice to be effective.
Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (2015)
Standards describing how effective leaders develop professional capacity to promote each student's success.
The Principal Effect — How School Leaders Address Challenges
Research on how school leaders address education's biggest challenges and how districts can support them.
District Leadership for Racial Equity
Cross-case findings from a study of leaders advancing racial equity in four school districts.
Educational Leadership Preparation in New York
A comprehensive study of New York's school leadership preparation programs, structure, costs, and DEI focus.
NYSED Literacy Initiative — Science of Reading
NYSED's literacy initiative built on the six pillars of the Science of Reading, adapted for all learners.
Science of Reading: What Is It? (Brief 1 of 7)
Structured literacy instruction — the features of effective literacy instruction drawing on the Science of Reading.
NYSED Literacy Briefs & Webinar Recordings
A series of literacy briefs on the science of reading produced by Dr. Nonie K. Lesaux, Professor of Education.
PK–3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices Guide
An evidence- and scientifically-based guide to help districts review and enhance literacy curriculum and instruction.
PK–3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices (Full PDF)
A comprehensive resource for educators providing detailed instructional best practices for pre-K through grade 3.
PK–3 Writing Instructional Best Practices
An evidence-based tool for reviewing local district literacy curriculum and writing instruction.
Framework for Integrating the Science of Reading in Educator Prep
NYSED's framework aligning educator preparation programs with Science of Reading principles and structured literacy.
The Reading League — Science of Reading Resources
Curated, evidence-aligned reading instruction webinars, books, podcasts, and articles from national literacy experts.
The Reading League New York — State Chapter
New York chapter advancing awareness and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction across the state.
What Is the Science of Reading?
An interdisciplinary body of scientifically-based research about reading and issues related to reading and writing.
6 Principles to Advance Equity in State Literacy Policy
EdTrust's report on how state literacy policy can advance equity through sustained, research-rooted professional learning.
An Equitable Approach to Improving Literacy
How improving access to and the quality of reading interventions advances equity for all students.
5 Research-Backed Literacy Strategies That Go Beyond Phonics
The latest research on five foundational, teacher-tested strategies grounded in the science of reading.
How to Work Literacy Instruction Into All Content Areas
Practical strategies for adapting literacy instruction across science, history, and ELA classrooms.
NYS Portrait of a Graduate — Overview
Official NYSED landing page for the Portrait of a Graduate initiative.
Portrait of a Graduate — Administrator Need-to-Know
Role-specific guidance for administrators on the Portrait of a Graduate.
Portrait of a Graduate — Educator Need-to-Know
Role-specific guidance for educators on the Portrait of a Graduate.
Portrait of a Graduate — School Board Need-to-Know
Role-specific guidance for school board members on the Portrait of a Graduate.
Portrait of a Graduate — Parent Need-to-Know
Role-specific guidance for parents on the Portrait of a Graduate.
Graduation Measures Initiative — FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the NY Inspires graduation measures initiative.
NYS Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks
Voluntary implementation benchmarks for SEL across grade bands (Revised Nov. 2022).
SEL: Essential for Learning, Essential for Life
Framework explaining SEL concepts and the need for and benefit of SEL in New York (Aug. 2018).
SEL: A Guide to Systemic Whole School Implementation
Strategies and resources for districts and schools implementing SEL systemically (Mar. 2019).
SEL for New York — At a Glance
A concise overview of social emotional learning in New York State.
SEL & Family and Community Engagement
Snapshot on aligning SEL with family and community engagement.
SEL & Assessment
Guidance on assessing social emotional learning in schools.
New SEL Guidance & Resources for School Districts (2025)
Tools facilitating systemic whole-school SEL implementation, including district-developed resources.
Primary Project — Children's Institute
A tier-2 prevention program helping children in pre-K through 3rd grade adjust to school using child-centered play.
The Children's Institute (formerly Primary Mental Health Project) — NYSED
NYSED page on the Children's Institute program for early detection and prevention of school adjustment difficulties.
NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CR-S) Education Framework
The official NYSED CR-S framework for creating equitable, inclusive learning environments.
Equity and Social Emotional Learning
Snapshot on the intersection of equity and social emotional learning.
SEL and Adult Practice
Snapshot on adult practice in SEL implementation.
NYSED Funding Opportunities
Central hub for all NYSED-administered grants and competitive funding opportunities.
Current Funding and Grant Opportunities (NYSED)
P-12 education funding opportunities, educational technology, Perkins funds, and teacher award programs.
P-12 Education Funding Opportunities
Current NYSED P-12 funding applications and grant opportunities available to districts and BOCES.
Special Education — IDEA Grant Information
Federal IDEA Section 611 and 619 grant program information for special education services.
Special Education Funding Opportunities and Grants
Grants administered by NYSED's Office of Special Education to support students with disabilities.
21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)
Federally-funded program supporting community learning centers providing afterschool and summer enrichment.
Perkins Federal Funds — Career & Technical Education
Federal Perkins funds to improve CTE programs preparing students for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand careers.
Teacher Residency Program (TRP) — NYSDOL
NYS Department of Labor Teacher Residency Program RFA — funding to support teacher residency pipelines.
Teacher Residency Program (TRP) Round 2 — NYSDOL
Round 2 RFA for the NSDOL Teacher Residency Program — up to $30M per award to build teacher pipelines.
Empire State Teacher Residency Program
The Empire State Teacher Residency Program immerses residents in real classroom experiences with direct mentorship.
Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (Federal)
Federal grant ($90M) to place and train school-based mental health service providers in high-need LEAs.
School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (Federal)
Federal grant program to increase the number of qualified mental health providers in schools.
NYSED State Aid & District Data
State aid portal with district data reports, output reports, and funding calculations.
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