New York Removes Regents Exams As Graduation Requirement For Class Of 2028!

A major change is coming to New York high schools, and students in the Class of 2028 will be among the first to experience it.

New York is moving away from using Regents exam scores as a mandatory requirement for students to earn a high school diploma.

The state Board of Regents has approved changes that will make Regents exams optional for graduation beginning with students graduating in 2028. The Class of 2027 will be the final graduating class required to pass the exams under the current system reports Pix 11 news.

What’s Changing?

While the Regents exams are not being eliminated, students will no longer have to pass the exams in order to receive their diploma. The state is shifting toward a graduation system that puts greater emphasis on demonstrating skills and knowledge through multiple forms of assessment.

The new approach is expected to place more focus on areas including critical thinking, communication, problem solving and other skills students can demonstrate through coursework and projects.

For students who choose to take the Regents exams, the tests will still be available.

A New Era For New York Students

The change marks a major shift from a testing system that has been a defining part of New York high school graduation requirements for decades.

The change could have a significant impact on thousands of New York students, particularly those who have struggled with high-stakes testing despite performing well in their classes.

Supporters of the new system say removing Regents exams as a graduation requirement could give students more opportunities to demonstrate what they know without having their diploma depend on a handful of standardized tests. It could also allow schools to recognize different ways students learn and demonstrate their skills.