New York state education officials have shared a much-anticipated adapted plan to change the path to graduation in an effort of inclusion.

“No more Regents requirement” was the proposal grabbing headlines. However, it is a long way from approval or implementation. The earliest the change could take place would be the 2025-26 school year.

What You Need To Know

  •  NYSED formed the Blue Ribbon Commission to rethink pathways to high school graduation

  •  Regents testing has been a part of education in New York since 1878

  • The earliest Regents exams could be eliminated would be the 2025-26 school year

At the heart of the plan is to create “true equity” in education. 

Tom Colabufo, superintendent of the Central Square school district, says he is happy about the proposal.

School districts have already embraced alternate pathways, like career technical education programs designed to tap into different strengths for different types of learners.

“If there’s a student that can wire a house, right? If there’s a student that can build a house, if there’s a student that’s an amazing nurse, and things like that ... and cosmetology, and they’re all set for their future," Colabufo said, "then why are we going to force them to have to pass a Regents exam if that’s not something that they’re strong at?"

Central Square’s program has seen success, but Colabufo points to the bigger picture. Better student retention, he said, could improve the labor shortage and could even reduce generational poverty.

In terms of details, there is a lot to work out. The Regents exams provide a standardized assessment. So one of the big things that they would need to figure out is what that assessment looks like in the future.