N.Y. to unveil plans to change graduation requirements for high school students, report says

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York state education officials are preparing to release changes to graduation requirements for high school students next month, according to a new report by the Times Union.

The state is rethinking the requirements a high school senior needs to graduate through wide-ranging changes proposed last year by the Board of Regents’ Blue Ribbon Commission.

In November, the commission presented recommendations to the New York State Education Department as part of the Graduation Measures Initiative that brought together student voices and stakeholders. The commission was tasked with creating a roadmap for learning-centered education to best meet the needs of every student in New York, while also incorporating skills that prepare them for the future.

Some of those recommendations included: moving to one diploma type; allowing students to skip the Regents exams and allow for capstones or experiential learning experiences; reviewing and revising state learning standards.

State officials will share how they will implement new changes by releasing a “vision” on June 10, according to the Times Union. However, there won’t be a timeline for implementation until next fall — which could mean changes wouldn’t be in effect until potentially the 2025-2026 school year, according to the media outlet.

The Times Union also reported that Deputy Commissioner Angelique Johnson-Dingle offered a clue of what could be implemented — possibly dropping or reducing “seat time.” This is a requirement that students attend class for a number of days to earn credit. This change could mean students would be able to show proficiency and gain credit for a class much faster, according to the media outlet.