Graduation requirements

Dec 12, 2007 12:42 PM

This past June, there was much discussion in Albany at the Board of Regents to change the diploma requirements for this year’s entering freshman classes. NYSUT, our state union, was able to convince the Regents to extend the phase-in period and to abandon the ridiculous and complicated plan for averaging the scores. This phase-in plan will take a maximum of four years.

The new requirements are as follows:

The Board of Regents approved moving to 65 the passing score for Regents Exams. The transition will be phased in as follows:

• For students entering 9th grade in 2005: General education students must have at least two scores at 65 or above on the five required Regents exams and all scores at 55 or above
• For students entering 9th grade in 2006: General education students must have at least three scores at 65 or above on the five required Regents exams and all scores at 55 and above.
• For students entering 9th grade in 2007: General education students must have at least four scores of 65 or above on the five required Regents exams and all scores
  at 55 or above.
• For students entering 9th grade in 2008: General education students must pass all five required Regents exams at a score of 65 or above.

The Regents also approved an appeals process in which students who score within three points of 65 and have achieved the standards would be eligible to appeal up to two exams if they meet the following criteria:

• Take the Regents Exam in question two times.
• Have a score on the Regents Exam under appeal within three points of the passing score on that exam.
• Have a course average in the subject under appeal that meets or exceeds the required passing grade of the school. The course average must be based on the student’s official transcript that records grades achieved by the student in each quarter of the school year.
• Present evidence that they have taken advantage of academic help provided by the school in the subject tested by the Regents Exam under appeal.
• Have an attendance rate of 95 percent for the school year (except for excused absences) during which they last took the Regents Exam under appeal. Local school districts set their own policy for what is considered an excused or unexcused absence.
• Be recommended for an exemption to the graduation requirement by their teacher or department chairperson in the subject of the Regents Exam under appeal.

Students with disabilities can still pass the Regents Competency Tests instead of Regents Exams to earn a local diploma. This provision will continue for students entering grade 9 prior to September 2010. Students using this provision will receive a local diploma. In addition, the low-pass option of scoring between 55 and 64 on the required Regents Exams to earn a local diploma will continue to be available for students with disabilities