Most Regents exams canceled
State education officials still hoping for a federal waiver for all assessments
The state Board of Regents on Monday voted unanimously to cancel all Regents exams this year except for four federally mandated tests in English, algebra, earth science and the living environment.
The Regents tests will also not be a requirement to earn diplomas this year; students must simply pass their courses to graduate.
The move comes after the Biden administration last month declined to grant a blanket waiver for state assessments this year, as the federal government did in the spring of 2020 when the COVID -19 pandemic forced school buildings closed.
New York is among several states that sought permission from the U.S. Department of Education to exempt students from this year’s testing requirements for grades 3-8. State officials are still hoping the federal government will grant the state a waiver for all exams.
“As we continue to see a global pandemic impact our schools and students in every corner of the state, the board and I are determined to complete this school year in a manner that protects the health and safety of all of New York’s children,” Chancellor Lester W. Young Jr. said. “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.”
U.S. acting Assistant Education Secretary Ian Rosenblum wrote in a letter last month to state leaders that exams must take place, but he said the test scores would not be tied to school performance and accommodations should be made for remote learners.
“To be successful once schools have reopened, we need to understand the impact COVID -19 has had on learning and identify what resources and supports students need,” Rosenblum wrote.
States may seek permission to shorten the tests, offer the exams virtually, or even delay the deadline for students to sit for the exam into next year, the guidance states. The tests are also optional; parents may opt kids out of the exams and state educational leaders said they are supportive of parents making the decision.
Teachers unions and parent groups had lobbied for the state to request a federal waiver for the state exams for grades 3-8 and high school, arguing that students worst affected by the pandemic are less likely to have access to the exams.
They argue that any data that comes from standardized test scores could be misleading since students are being educated on a range of different educational models, from fully in-person, to various hybrid schedules, to fully remote.
Union leaders say teachers are well equipped to assess learning loss as well as the mental health needs of children. New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta commended state education officials for making the most of a bad situation.
“In a year that has been anything but standard, forcing states to administer standardized exams is just plain poor federal policy,” Pallotta said. “Commissioner Rosa, Chancellor Young, and the Board of Regents are doing what’s necessary to put students’ needs first in a frustratingly backward situation.”
Gladys Cruz, superintendent of Questar III BOCES, which directs programming for 23 school districts in Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties, said in speaking with college admissions officers, they are primarily interested in a student’s grade-point average and the course of study that the student pursued in high school.
“They look to see if a student took foreign language, or honors and advanced math and science,” Cruz said. “They do nottalk about Regents exams . ... why? Because when admissions officers get applications they come from all across the nation. Regents exams are coming from all across New York state, so it’s not easy to compare.”
Even New York-based schools put less weight on Regents exams than they have in the past. Ned Jones, vice president of enrollment and marketing at Siena College, told the Times Union that the Loudonville institution has been less focused on Regents scores in recent years because school districts now offer students more opportunities for challenging coursework.
“I think (the Regents) are making a smart decision (in canceling the exams),” he said. “We’ve got to keep our eye on the ball, which is right there in front of us. What we are very focused on is the work students are doing day to day . ... Anything we can do to rid ourselves of the bureaucracy of education and just focus on the learning so we can prepare them for life.”