New York high school students may soon be able to graduate without passing Regents exams, but they will still be required to take the tests under federal education accountability requirements.
State education officials announced Monday, November 9th, that students will continue taking Regents examinations in four subjects: English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
The requirement comes as New York moves forward with changes to its high school graduation system. Beginning with students graduating in 2028, passing Regents exams will no longer be a condition for receiving a high school diploma.
However, federal education law, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires states to administer standardized assessments to measure student achievement and hold schools accountable for academic performance.
New York plans to use the Regents examinations to meet those requirements. Students will have to take the exams, but they will not need to pass them to graduate. Their scores will not appear on transcripts or affect their diplomas.
Schools must also maintain a 95% student participation rate in testing.
The changes are intended to reduce testing barriers to graduation while preserving statewide academic accountability.
