Regents Exam Diploma Requirement Waived Again

The New York State Board of Regents is waiving its diploma testing requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic for a second year.

The Board posted a statement  March 15 reporting action on a number of regulations to allow for exemptions to Regents Diploma requirements associated with the June 2021 and August 2021 Regents Exams. Students will only need to pass the course to receive Regents credit. Only exams for Algebra-1, English Language Arts-1, Living Environment and Earth Science will be given to meet federal testing requirements.

The waiver applies to students who have previously gotten class credit in a Regents class but have not passed the Regents exam.

Education officials have appealed to the U.S. Department of Education to cancel achievement exams for grades three through eight due to the extenuating circumstances resulting in the disruption of traditional instruction since March 2020 but federal officials have indicated they have no plan to waive the testing.

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Chancellor Lester Young, Junior says “While we were disappointed by the USDE decision not to grant blanket waivers for state assessments, we are confident that the regulatory amendments acted on today and other assessment-related actions by the Department provide for the flexibility necessary to meet federal requirements while ensuring the well-being of those in our school buildings.” 

Education Commissioner Betty Rosa says the Department is not giving up on urging the waiver of this year’s assessments for students in the lower grades.