In early November, the New York State Regents announced that Regents exams for current freshmen would be waived. However, sophomores will still be required to pass all exams needed to graduate in the 2026-2027 school year.
Current ninth graders will still take the Regents exams, they just don’t have to pass them in order to graduate.
Chalkbeat reported that students would no longer be required to pass the state’s Regents exams to earn a high school diploma.
“I actually feel very relieved by it because there is already so much pressure with getting all your credits in order to continue in certain classes and other things so I feel like that’s a weight off my shoulder,” said freshman Ali Johnson.
“I think it’s very unfair because I was just a freshman and I still have to take my Regents,” said sophomore Destiny Maizanche.
Some argue that passing Regents looks great on a college resume. An advanced Regents diploma looks phenomenal and more competitive on college applications.
Many educators have been very determined to have the state reduce the impact of Regents since the pandemic.
Members of the Board of Regents have asked questions about how changes will reshape instruction.
In order to graduate from high school under the new standards, New York students will have to demonstrate proficiency in seven key areas: critical thinking, effective communication, cultural and social-emotional competences, innovative problem solving, literacy across content areas, and status as a “global citizen.”
The changes with the Regents exams will impact the underclass men but the upperclassmen can’t benefit from this.
