{"id":13092,"date":"2025-09-18T09:15:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T13:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/?p=13092"},"modified":"2025-09-18T10:00:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:00:19","slug":"highlighting-concerns-explaining-civil-service-plans-to-modernize-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/articles\/news\/highlighting-concerns-explaining-civil-service-plans-to-modernize-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlighting concerns, explaining Civil Service plans to \u2018modernize\u2019 system"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting July 2026, the Department of Civil Service plans to \u201cmodernize\u201d by replacing competitive examinations with Training & Experience (T&E) questionnaires for all applicants.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What are T&Es?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 T&Es are questionnaires about previous education and work experience with no assessment of skills or knowledge.<\/p>\n

Why Is This a Concern?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups T&Es favor those with prior experience and education, making it harder for newcomers, students, and marginalized communities without access to higher education or unpaid experience.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Weakening Merit & Fitness The NYS Constitution calls for skills based exams. T&Es reduce merit to a simple resume review, risking a return to the spoils system.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Barriers for New Entrants & Career Changers Graduates, returning workers, and career changers will face tougher odds as previous experience is scored higher, which many of these applicants may be lacking.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Risk of Dishonesty & Inaccuracy Self-reported data can be misrepresented, and candidates may have trouble accurately assessing their skills and history. Without skills testing, employers won\u2019t know if candidates are truly qualified.<\/p>\n

Many questions remain about this proposed shift \u2013 how will T&Es be scored, potentially challenged, and whether they will replace promotional exams, to name a few. PEF has submitted Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests to see the total compensation study contract and information on titles filled by T&Es since 2020 – they have gone unanswered. We need facts and that\u2019s where you come in.<\/p>\n

Help protect our merit-based civil service! Join our digital letter writing campaign to send an email to the Public Information Officer at the New York State Department of Civil Service<\/a> to express your concerns and demand answers to PEF\u2019s FOIL requests.<\/p>\n

FACT SHEET: Why PEF opposed NY HELPS and the State\u2019s plan to change the Civil Service system<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Starting July 2026, the Department of Civil Service plans to \u201cmodernize\u201d by replacing competitive examinations with Training & Experience (T&E) questionnaires for all applicants. 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