New York to drop mandatory Regents exams for high school graduates starting 2028

The New York Board of Regents voted to eliminate the mandatory passing of Regents exams for high school diplomas, with the change taking effect for students graduating in 2028 and beyond. While the exams will remain available, they will be optional and no longer count toward graduation eligibility. The Department of Education has been directed to devise alternative requirements, potentially including portfolio assessments that focus on long-term projects, problem solving, and critical thinking rather than multiple-choice tests.

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said the new framework, called "NY Inspires," seeks to maintain rigorous standards while giving students more ways to demonstrate knowledge and readiness for post-secondary life. Manhattan Institute senior fellow Ray Domanico, a longtime advocate of high standards, criticized past Regents exams as diluted and subject to cheating, questioning how the new system will ensure student preparedness. The upcoming proposal from the Education Department will determine the concrete criteria that replace the traditional exam mandate.