STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York state education officials have announced changes to graduation requirements —one of which would no longer require students to take and pass Regents exams to receive a high school diploma.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) presented its vision to implement recommendations of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, which are designed to bring greater equity within the state’s education system, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced on Monday.
“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,” said Rosa. “The educational transformation we envision reflects the thoughtful input we received from our stakeholders – particularly from public school students and their families. It takes an incredible amount of time, work, and collaborative effort to transform an education system, and we will not stop working until we get the job done right for all New Yorkers.”
In 2019, the Graduation Measures Initiative was launched to explore what a New York state diploma should signify to ensure educational excellence and equity for all students. In November 2023, the commission presented several recommendations to achieve these goals.
During Monday’s Board of Regents meeting, staff presented NYSED’s proposed vision for implementing the recommendations, with transformative actions in four areas:
Transformation 1: Adopt the New York State Portrait of a Graduate
This is intended to create a shared understanding of the skills and knowledge that New York state public school graduates have mastered.
To earn a high school diploma, a student will have to demonstrate proficiency in each component of the portrait, meaning that they must be critical thinkers, innovative problem solvers, literate across all content areas, culturally competent, socially-emotionally competent, effective communicators and global citizens, according to the state.
Transformation 2: Re-define Credits
NYSED proposes to re-define credits to focus on proficiency rather than upon the completion of time-based units of study, which is the current practice for most students.
The goal is to expand ways in which students can demonstrate mastery of learning standards and attainment of various components of the Portrait of a Graduate.
Students would be permitted to demonstrate proficiency in a number of different ways, including: approved work- or service-based learning experiences; dual credit programs such as early college high school; earning a New York state seal or credential; traditional high school courses; approved Career and Technical Education programs; participation in the arts; and passing approved assessments, including Regents exams.
It would support the needs of all students, including students with disabilities and English language learners, due to the flexibility of demonstrating proficiency.
Transformation 3: Sunset Diploma Assessment Requirements
NYSED is recommending de-coupling specific assessment requirements from graduation requirements. This means students will not longer need to pass the Regents exams or a +1 Pathway Assessment in order to graduate from high school.
Regents exams will still be available as one of the measures students can demonstrate proficiency. Students will continue to be assessed through multiple measures at the local level to demonstrate their learning, and will still take specific state-level assessments required by federal law to track progress across New York.
Transformation 4: Move to One Diploma
The department recommends moving to a system with only one diploma available to all New York state public school graduates.
Districts would be required to confer diplomas to all students who satisfy the state’s requirements.
This approach would eliminate the local diploma, the “advanced designation” diploma would become a seal or endorsem*nt, and districts would be authorized to add additional seals and endorsem*nts.
FORUMS HELD THIS YEAR
NYSED will conduct a series of Blue Ribbon Commission “Ambassador Forums” between July and October this year to provide an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts about the four proposed transformations.
“From the very beginning of this effort, I have urged people to understand that our work is about raising the bar for all,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. “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. Our job is to prepare students for a lifetime of continuous learning, fulfilling careers and informed civic engagement. Let’s provide them with the tools to do that – and then let’s stand back and watch as they pursue their own pathway to success.”
In November, the department’s implementation plan will be presented to the Board of Regents with projected timelines, affected regulations, and other considerations.
The Board of Regents must approve any changes to the state’s graduation requirements.
Until such time, the existing graduation requirements remain in effect for all public school students in New York.
Additional information about the Graduation Measures initiative can be found on the Department’s Graduation Measures website.
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