The New York State Education Department announced on Monday a formal plan to phase out the Regents examinations to graduate high school – but will continue to offer the tests as an option for students to “demonstrate their proficiency in meeting the State’s learning standards.”
The department submitted its plan to the Board of Regents on Monday, based on recommendations from a special panel comprised of students, parents, educators, researchers, and community leaders. Critics have long contended that exit examinations are an unjust barrier for students with impairments and English language learners who deserve a diploma.
Should the change be put into effect, it would signify a departure from guidelines that have been in existence in for over a century.
“True equity and excellence in education is achievable – but only if we provide all students with meaningful educational opportunities and multiple avenues for them to demonstrate their mastery of the State’s rigorous learning standards,” Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young, Jr. stated.
“The bold vision we are advancing today is a direct result of countless hours of collaborative work from an incredibly diverse group of expert practitioners and the public,” Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said in a statement. “The educational transformation we envision reflects the thoughtful input we received from our stakeholders – particularly from public school students and their families.
In an effort to redefine “what a New York State diploma should signify,” the Board of Regents and the Education Department established the “NYS Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures” in 2019.
The majority of students in New York now must pass five Regents examinations in essential disciplines, such as math, science, social studies, and English language arts, in order to graduate.
The education department will now hold a number of public meetings between July and October 2024 to get input on the proposed modifications before the plan is formally enacted. The state education department will provide an implementation plan after the public forums this summer and fall.
