An effort to phase out the Regents exam as a high school graduation requirement reached a major milestone on Monday, when the New York State Board of Regents authorized a plan under which current seniors will be last who must pass the test in order to earn a diploma.
The board’s approval kicks off a final push to turn the proposal — which has been in the pipeline for some time, but still lacks specifics — into an actionable plan over the next year, including long-awaited guidance for schools to implement the sweeping changes.
“For years, we looked at what elite private schools provide for their students, and they do not worry about the Regents exam,” Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa told the Board of Regents during its monthly meeting in Albany. “This state really needs to stop putting our kids in coach or a little extra legroom, but rather putting them in first class or business class — I’ll take business class. But the only way that we can get there is when we stop thinking about teaching to the test.”
So basically, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats have eliminated the Regents exam requirement for graduation beginning in 2028, allowing students to graduate without passing standardized tests. This change reduces accountability by giving districts greater control over graduation standards and could allow students to advance without being adequately prepared for college or careers. With New York spending roughly $41,000 per student, the focus should be on improving educational outcomes rather than lowering expectations. What an embarrassment.
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