New York’s education chief is pushing for a “huge investment” to replace Regents exams with portfolios and projects, without naming a price tag, putting taxpayers on the hook while standards remain unsettled.
Story Snapshot
- State leaders plan to end the Regents exam requirement for the Class of 2028.
- Education chief Betty Rosa says schools need major funding for training and scoring.
- Officials have not shared a full plan or cost model for the shift.
- Governor Kathy Hochul’s office flagged the lack of clarity about replacements.
What Albany Is Changing About Graduation
New York’s Board of Regents voted to make Regents exams optional and to build new paths to a diploma. Beginning with the Class of 2028, students will no longer need to pass Regents exams to graduate, though the state is still developing the detailed replacements. The New York State Education Department confirms that graduation now combines credit and assessment requirements, so changing assessments alters a core state credential, not a classroom trend. This is a statewide shift, with real costs and accountability stakes.
State leaders are exploring portfolios, projects, presentations, research work, and even internships to show skills. These tasks are harder to standardize than tests. They also demand trained scorers, clear rubrics, and time set aside for judging student work. Reports say some districts will need outside experts to teach teachers how to score consistently. That raises price and quality questions, especially for smaller or rural districts that lack in-house staff.
Rosa’s Funding Push And The Missing Dollar Figure
Education Commissioner Betty Rosa told lawmakers and the governor, “We can’t be starved,” and pressed for a “huge investment” to make the transition work. She cited training, coaching, and expert support as needs. But she did not offer a price tag, a cost-per-student estimate, or a district formula. That gap invites others to define the number for her. Critics already warn that consultant bills and endless training could balloon easily without a clear plan or cap.
The state has set aside about two million dollars to help schools adapt, but officials are seeking more grants and state funds to build the system. That small starter fund signals that leaders expect much higher costs to come. Yet the public still lacks a statewide budget model that lists staff hours, trainer pay, materials, technology, and moderation steps. Without that, taxpayers cannot judge if the request is smart, fair, or wasteful.
Standards, Rigor, And The Risk Of Uneven Grading
Governor Kathy Hochul’s office said her priority is a high-quality, rigorous education and flagged concerns about the lack of clarity on what replaces Regents exams. That worry hits the heart of the issue. Tests are comparable across districts. Local portfolios can vary widely. The state has not released final scoring rubrics, audit rules, or inter-rater checks to prove students will be judged by equal standards. Until those appear, families will fear grade inflation and uneven expectations.
New York’s current framework still treats assessments as a formal graduation gate, which shows the scale of the change that leaders are attempting. If the state wants to trade common exams for local judgments, it must show how it will keep scores consistent. That takes training, time, and money. It also takes transparency. A public plan should show who trains whom, how often, how quality gets checked, and what happens when scores conflict across districts.
What Taxpayers Deserve Before Writing A Blank Check
Lawmakers should demand a full fiscal-impact model first. The plan should list total cost, cost per student, cost per educator, and a timeline. It should separate one-time setup from ongoing expenses, and spell out moderation steps to keep grading fair. The public should also see results from the two million dollars already set aside: which districts got money, what they bought, and what gaps remain. Clear numbers beat slogans every time.
Parents want strong standards and honest value for their taxes. President Trump’s focus on accountability and local control means states must prove big changes will not dilute rigor or drain wallets. New York can pilot new pathways, but it should keep proven measures while the state builds capacity. Ending a century-old exam rule without final rules, rubrics, and real costs invites chaos. Albany owes families clarity, comparability, and a firm price tag before cashing in.
Sources:
nypost.com, newsprisma.com, fingerlakes1.com
