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By: Meyer Wolfsheim
New York’s Class of 2027 will likely be the last high school students required to pass Regents exams for graduation, according to state education officials. As reported by the NY Daily News, this change is part of an ambitious $11.5 million plan presented to the Board of Regents on Monday. The initiative, stretching over five years, aims to replace the current reliance on standardized testing with alternative methods of measuring student achievement.
As NY Daily News notes, the proposed overhaul would consolidate New York’s three existing diploma types into one, adjust credit requirements, and expand the knowledge and skills students need to earn a diploma. Shannon Logan, director of standards, instruction, and educational technology at the state Education Department, emphasized that while Regents exams will remain one way for students to demonstrate their mastery of learning standards, they will no longer be a requirement for graduation.
Approval from the Board of Regents is necessary before the proposed changes can be implemented, as NY Daily News explains. Currently, students in New York must pass at least four Regents exams and a state-approved assessment, along with specific credit requirements, to receive a standard diploma. New York is one of a small number of states that still mandates standardized testing as a graduation requirement, despite research cited by NY Daily News suggesting limited benefits to student success.
The January 2028 Regents exams will mark the first round in which students won’t need passing scores to graduate if the new rules take effect, NY Daily News reports. Feedback from educators suggests that eliminating the testing requirement could allow for deeper engagement with the curriculum, potentially steering classroom focus away from “teaching to the test.” Teachers proposed alternatives like internships, capstone projects, and portfolios as valuable options for students to showcase their understanding of subject material.
“We’re looking for more ways for students to show what they know, rather than imposing more requirements,” Logan told the NY Daily News, signaling a shift in the state’s educational priorities.
Beginning this school year, the state will allow eligible students to apply for exemptions from the June Regents exams due to major life events, according to the NY Daily News. A full vote on the proposal by the Board of Regents is expected to take place after the new year.
The plan also includes streamlining the state’s diploma options, though students currently enrolled in high school will still be able to pursue an “advanced designation” until new seals and endorsements for specialized skills become available. NY Daily News also reports that the state is considering additional graduation requirements in areas like financial literacy, climate awareness, and career and technical education.
By fall 2029, New York aims to fully implement these changes across the state, with updated assessments and a new, standardized transcript template aligned with revised learning standards. However, as highlighted by NY Daily News, questions remain about how individual schools will adapt to these changes. Regent Roger Catania noted the need for clarity, especially around curriculum adjustments. “We don’t have all the answers yet,” Catania remarked, raising concerns about course planning and instructional impact.
David Bloomfield, a professor of education law and policy at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, shared concerns with the NY Daily News that eliminating Regents exams could create pressure on schools to prioritize graduation rates over academic rigor.
