ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The New York State Education Department (NYSED) continuously reviews recommendations and proposals potentially impacting students. As of mid-September, they’re in the middle of a glut of statewide meetings to gather community feedback on graduation changes formulated by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures .
The Blue Ribbon Commission, NYSED, and the Board of Regents say they’re working together to improve the high school experience in New York. They’re focused on different graduation requirements that could lay a stronger foundation for young New Yorkers. NYSED’s vision for those new prerequisites divides into four transformations:
- Portrait of a graduate : The embodiment of a student who passed high school in New York thinks critically, solves problems efficiently, and communicates effectively. Graduating students must be culturally aware, emotionally competent, and skilled in their academic subjects to thrive in college, in their careers, and in life.
- Redefine credits : Instead of earning credits based on class time, students earn them by demonstrating mastery of different skills. Demonstrations in this system include internships, dual credit programs, arts participation, or passing approved exams like the Regents. Flexibility lets all students—including those with disabilities and English language learners—succeed.
- Diploma assessments : Students no longer need to pass specific state tests to graduate. Tests like the Regents will still be available, but kids can show proficiency in other ways, like local assessments, that still meet federal benchmarks.
- One diploma : Moving to a single high school diploma for all students would remove barriers, especially for students with disabilities, while still recognizing achievements. The “advanced” diploma becomes a special seal or endorsement on that single standard diploma, and schools can add other recognitions.
New York congressmembers join coalition to accept election results The changes aim to help students navigate whichever path to a high school diploma works best for them while still meeting high standards. In November, NYSED will present a final plan on graduation requirements to the Board of Regents. Until then, current graduation rules stay in place.
You can learn about or respond to the four transformations in person at any of several Ambassador Forums still to come before November. NYSED will also take public input through the ThoughtExchange platform or Zoom.
- WSWHE BOCES Conference Center, 267 Ballard Road, Suite 5, Wilton
- Educators: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on September 17
- Public: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on September 17
- Register online
- Oneida BOCES/Herkimer BOCES/Madison BOCES, Howard D. Mettelman Learning Center, 4747 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford
- OACES/Rochester, 30 Hart Street, Rochester
- Eastern/Western Suffolk BOCES on Zoom
- 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on September 17
- Western Suffolk BOCES, 31 Lee Ave, Wheatly
- 9:30 a.m. to noon on September 18
- Registration available soon
- Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES (School Services Building)
- Eastern Suffolk BOCES, 750 Waverly Ave, Holtsville
- 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on September 20
- Registration available soon
- First Unitarian Church of Rochester, Williams Gallery 1st Floor, 220 Winton Road, South Rochester
- Nassau BOCES, 1 Merrick Ave, Westbury
- 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 23
- Registration available soon
- CVES Conference Center, 1443 Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh (CEWW BOCES)
- OACES/Rochester, 30 Hart Street, Rochester
- Blue Ribbon Commission ambassador student forum on Zoom
- OCM BOCES, Cortlandville Campus, 1710 NYS Route 13, Cortland
- CVES Moriah Auditorium, 39 Viking Lake, Port Henry (CEWW BOCES)
- Staten Island virtual forum
- Ulster BOCES, Jane Bullowa Conference Center, 175 Route 32 North, New Paltz
New MTA capital plan with congestion pricing gap in funds due October 1 The Graduation Measures Initiative aimed to keep public schools equitable while providing an education that equips students for success. It supported a Board of Regents commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All told, the Blue Ribbon Commission presented 12 recommendations to guide educators moving forward:
- One diploma with optional seals and endorsements
- New credit requirements for civic responsibility, cultural competence, financial literacy, arts, STEM, and real-world writing skills
- Career and technical education, internships, and work-based learning for all students
- Credit requirements grouped into larger categories like STEM
- Modified diploma assessment options and reduced testing requirements
- State rubrics for performance-based assessments
- Specific graduation rules for students in unique situations, like newcomers or refugees
- Exemptions from assessments for students with cognitive disabilities or major life events
- Posthumous high school degrees
- Teacher preparation programs must include culturally responsive-sustaining education
- Teacher professional development must Include culturally responsive-sustaining education
- Review and update New York’s learning standards
STAR benefits: Credits, exemptions, rebates, and deadlines for school tax relief in New York Another proposed initiative for NYSED involves amending regulations about mixed competition and extra-class sports. The Board of Regents is considering whether changing Sections 135.1, 135.4, and 135.5 of the Commissioner of Education’s regulations would include more students in New York.
This initiative does not depend on or relate to any graduation requirements.
Girls face barriers when joining contact sports like football and basketball, usually only offered to male students. Some federal regulations block girls from trying out for these teams, and in New York, they have to clear outdated or unclear hurdles that boys don’t, like passing a physical fitness test or taking a health exam.
Tracking social media safety measures in New York Students, athletic associations, and school medical staff alike suggested clearer, fairer standards. They criticized fitness test requirements that don’t test the physical demands of specific sports, and subjective or inconsistent evaluation panels, according to NYSED. In April—to promote clarity and level the playing field—the Department proposed:
- Clearer, more inclusive language
- Updating sports lists
- Revising fitness test criteria
- Simplified review panels
- Consistent team selection processes
- Letting students “play up” or “play down” based on skill, fitness, and social development rather than age
- Eliminating gender distinctions when possible
- Letting all genders try out for teams previously offered to only one gender
Comptroller audit: Counties don’t check prices, scales NYSED and the Board of Regents met on September 9 and 10, and were supposed to vote on those changes then. “The Department tabled the mixed competition regulation for the September 2024 Board of Regents meeting,” said a spokesperson from the department. “NYSED is reviewing and responding to the hundreds of comments it received and expects additional stakeholder engagement. The Department anticipates bringing the regulation back to the Board during the second semester of the school year.”
The New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) may oppose those proposed changes to the Commissioner of Education’s regulations. According to the association, the change could damage players in traditional “girl’s” sports like field hockey, gymnastics, and volleyball.
COVID vaccination fraud voids pediatric vaccination records in New York A NYSSBA resolution highlights how the proposed change would remove the key phrase “significant adverse effect” from the regulations on mixed competition. They foresee reduced participation from girls, increased risk of injury, and unfair competition.
New York Republicans sent out a fundraising email in September asking for donations to help fight such changes to sports in New York schools, but they used more descriptive language than NYSSBA. Under the subject line, “Stop This Attack on Girls’ Sports,” it reads:
“Outrageous news out of Albany. The New York State Board of Regents is considering a policy to let high school boys compete in girls-only sports when there’s no equivalent boys’ team—like field hockey and flag football. This misguided proposal has rightfully alarmed parents, athletes, and educators across the state.”
Spending opioid settlement money in New York The fundraising email said Republicans want to protect kids and communities from a dangerous leftist agenda in New York. Beyond unfairness and safety concerns, the email said that the changes would open school districts up to expensive lawsuits from injured female athletes who get kicked off their team roster.
“This is one of many recent fear-mongering attempts from the Republics targeting queer and trans youth ,” argued Amanda Babine, executive director of Equality NY. “The goal of this revision would actually help with inclusion. More and more young people are identifying as non-binary and transgender and deserve access to sports and be affirmed in their gender identity and these changes would allow that.”
DOH: Mpox variant has not been seen in New York NYSBBA will vote on several resolutions—including the one that opposes changing the mixed sports regulations—on October 10 at 4 p.m.
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