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New York students will still take Regents exams but won't need to pass them to graduate

New York students will still take Regents exams but won't need to pass them to graduate

Rule Changes New York, NY local

State education officials say four exams remain necessary for federal testing rules, even as passing scores are set to lose their diploma role.

Today: Regents still required, passing not

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

New York high schoolers will still sit for four Regents exams to satisfy federal testing rules. Under the state's changing graduation rules, they will not have to pass them to earn a diploma.

The shift unwinds a late-1990s requirement that made passing five specific Regents exams mandatory for a Regents diploma. It leaves the exams in place as a federal compliance tool while raising a new question for districts: what should determine whether a student is ready to graduate?

Why it matters

New York's shift would make coursework and local standards, not statewide exam scores, the basis for a diploma.

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Key Indicators

4
Regents exams students must still take
State officials say four exams are needed to meet federal testing requirements.
0
Regents exams students must pass to graduate under planned rules
State officials say passing scores will no longer be required for a diploma.
5
Regents exams previously required to pass
The late-1990s rule made five specific Regents exams mandatory for a Regents diploma.
1878
First Regents exams administered
New York first administered the exams in 1878, long before they became a diploma requirement.

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Organizations Involved

NY
New York State Board of Regents
State education policymaking board
Adopting graduation rule changes

The Board of Regents sets education policy for New York and oversees the State Education Department.
New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department
State education agency
Implementing graduation changes and federal testing requirements

The State Education Department administers New York's public schools and implements Board of Regents policy.
BR
Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures
Advisory commission
Recommended de-emphasizing Regents exams

The commission was convened in 2019 to review New York's graduation measures.

Timeline

1878 November 2026

6 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Regents still required, passing not

    Today Policy

    Officials say four exams still required to take, not pass.

  2. Portrait of a Graduate adopted

    Policy

    Board adopts State Portrait of a Graduate, phase one.

  3. Commission presents recommendations

    Policy

    Commission presents graduation recommendations to Board of Regents.

  4. Graduation review launched

    Policy

    Board launches Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures.

  5. Regents diploma requirements tighten

    Rule Change

    Board makes passing five Regents exams mandatory for Regents diploma.

  6. Regents exams begin

    History

    Regents exams first administered in New York.

Scenarios

1

New York finalizes diploma rules without Regents pass requirement

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Gothamist reporting on state officials' plans

The Board of Regents would adopt final regulations that keep four federally required exams but remove passing scores from diploma requirements. Districts would then revise local graduation standards for the phase-in.

2

Federal officials reject New York's testing plan

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Federal Every Student Succeeds Act requirements, as described by state officials

The U.S. Department of Education could determine that New York's plan does not meet federal accountability rules. That would force the state to keep exam scores in graduation decisions or revise its plan.

3

Board delays final vote after public comment

Possible Resolves by Q2 2028

Discussed by: Board of Regents public meeting schedule

The Board of Regents could postpone final adoption while it reviews public comments and district concerns. The current Regents passing requirement would remain in effect during the delay.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1878

Regents exams introduced (1878)

New York first administered Regents exams in 1878, decades before they became a standard diploma requirement. The tests were originally used to certify academic achievement across the state's schools.

Then

They became a fixture of New York schooling.

Now

The exams later became central to the state's Regents diploma.

Why this matters now

The tests are older than the graduation rules now being rewritten.

Late 1990s

Regents diploma requirements tightened (late 1990s)

In the late 1990s, the Board of Regents made passing five specific Regents exams mandatory for a Regents diploma. The move standardized graduation expectations across the state.

Then

Students had to pass English, math, science, and social studies exams.

Now

The requirement shaped instruction and graduation outcomes for more than two decades.

Why this matters now

The current plan would unwind that passing requirement while keeping the exams.

December 2015

Every Student Succeeds Act (2015)

The federal Every Student Succeeds Act replaced No Child Left Behind and kept a requirement that states test students annually in English, math, and science. It left graduation standards to states.

Then

States must administer the tests but can decide what counts for a diploma.

Now

New York cites the law as the reason four Regents exams remain mandatory to take.

Why this matters now

Explains why the state cannot simply drop the exams altogether.

Sources

(2)
Gothamist Legal Services of Long Island