The Office of Cultural Education offers many resources, including digital collections, workshops, and professional development opportunities to support teaching and learning:

New York State Museum

The New York State Museum is a center of art, science, and history dedicated to exploring the human and natural history of the state. Established in 1836, it is the oldest and largest state museum in the country. 

State Museum Teacher Guides: Teacher guides provide educators with ways of engaging with the research, exhibits, and collections of the New York State Museum. Some guides provide additional insights for on-site visits to the State Museum, while other guides can be used in the classroom with inquiry-based lessons and digital access to both research and artifacts.

State Museum Teacher Professional Development Workshops: CTLE-certified museum workshops offer access to current research information, interaction with Museum collections and research staff, and behind-the-scenes participation in the research process. Exhibit-focused workshops also provide introductions to the New York State Standards-supporting educational resources and techniques for bringing the artifacts and research of exhibits into the classroom.

State Museum Publications: The State Museum has published research since its origination as the New York State Geological and Natural History Survey in 1836. 

New York State Library 

The New York State Library encompasses the Research Library, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The State Library offers a variety of online resources for teachers to use in in the classroom, including:

State Library Online Exhibits: Online exhibits feature materials from the State Library’s vast collections that explore key chapters in New York and American history. 

State Library Digital Collections: The Library’s Digital Collections consist of over 75,000 documents relating primarily to New York State. There are State publications, including past Regents Exams, and primary source documents such as letters, journals, maps and posters.

NOVELny: Free online access to the full text of hundreds of journals, newspapers, and other references.

Summer Reading at New York Libraries: The State Library’s summer reading program encourages children and students to participate in a free summer reading activities and programs at a local library. 

New York State Archives

The New York State Archives cares for and provides access to more than 250 million documents that tell the story of New York from the 17th century to the present, oversees records management programs for state agencies and local governments, and provides archival advisory services for community organizations statewide. 

State Archives Educational Resources: The Archives offers historical records and tools for teachers to use in the classroom.  

Classroom Connections: Offering online exhibitions with ready-made resources for grades 4 – 12.  

State Archives Digital Collections: The Digital Collections provides access to photographs, textual records, artifacts, government documents, manuscripts, and other materials.

“Using Primary Sources in the Classroom” Instructional Videos: Watch videos to learn creative ways to incorporate primary source documents into classroom teaching. 

“Consider the Source: Historical Records in the Classroom” Guide: Nationally-recognized publication introducing teachers to the “how” and “why” of using historical documents.  

State Archives Student Research Awards: The State Archives’ signature statewide competition promoting excellence in student research using historical records. 

Teacher Resource Guides for New York Archives Magazine: Educator guides for select features from New York Archives magazine. New York Archives magazine is a donor-funded educational product published quarterly by the NYS Archives Partnership Trust.   

Regional Professional Training Opportunities: For customized professional development programming on using historical records in the classroom, contact Jessica Maul at jessica.maul@nysed.gov or (518) 474-0245.

Office of Educational Television and Public Broadcasting

New York State’s public television and radio stations are chartered by the Board of Regents and are therefore institutions within the University of the State of New York – USNY – the most complete, interconnected system of educational services in the United States.

Find Your New York Public Radio or Television Station: Search by region to find your local public radio or television station. 

PBS LearningMedia New York: This website provides free access to public television program clips, teacher guides, interactive learning objects, instructional strategies, and much more, searchable by curriculum area and grade level.

New York State Summer School of the Arts

This summer arts residential program is funded by the New York State Education Department and student tuition. The four-week, pre-professional summer curriculum includes individual and group instruction designed to help each student explore and develop their talents in ballet, choral studies, modern dance, visual arts, media arts, orchestral studies, or theatre.