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NY students will still have to take Regents exams, even as graduation rules change
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 9, 2026 at 4:52 p.m. ET
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Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 9, 2026 at 4:52 p.m. ET
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Students across the state will no longer need to pass Regents exams to graduate, but most students will still need to take them.
State education officials on Monday said high school students will still need to take assessments in four subjects to meet federal testing requirements.
The New York Board of Regents nixed passing the exams — which assess students' knowledge of English, math, social studies and science — as a graduation requirement earlier this year, creating uncertainty about how the changes would play out.
Passing the exams will no longer be required to graduate starting in the 2027-2028 school year. State officials have said the tests can be obstacles to graduation for students with disabilities, different learning styles or limited English proficiency.
But during a Board of Regents meeting on Monday, education officials said students would still need to take Regents exams or approved alternatives in each of the four subjects to satisfy statewide testing requirements under federal law.
The state will continue administering the Regents exams as it works on a new assessment system it aims to introduce in spring 2030.
Education advocates have raised concerns about the changes. In a June 2024 statement, EdTrust-New York warned that eliminating Regents exams as a graduation requirement could lead to inconsistent academic standards across school districts and make it harder to determine whether students are prepared for college and careers.
The group also raised concerns that the changes could worsen educational inequities, particularly for students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.
The New York State Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tagged
education
new york state
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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