Regents Keep Four Exams Without Graduation Impact
New York's Board of Regents will retain four Regents exams as federally required assessments, separate from diploma requirements.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Secondary Education
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New York will eliminate Regents exams as a graduation requirement starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The Board of Regents will keep four exams in math, English Language Arts, Social Studies, and science to satisfy federal school accountability rules.
Why it matters
Federal rules require high school students to be assessed for school accountability, so the state is keeping exams even though passing them will no longer determine graduation. Scores will not appear on transcripts or affect diploma eligibility.
Students must sit for one Regents exam in each of four disciplines, but passing is no longer required. The Board of Regents heard a one-hour presentation on the federal testing rules before the change.
The players
New York Board of Regents
The state body that governs New York's education system and oversees the Regents examinations and diploma standards.
The details
Students may choose when to take each Regents exam and which exam to take when multiple options exist in a discipline. They may also sit for exams outside their traditional grade level, such as Algebra I in 11th grade.
Timeline
Monday, before November 9, 2026: Regents heard a presentation on federal testing regulations.
2027-2028 school year: New diploma requirements take effect without a Regents passing mandate.
Roadmap
New York is keeping exams tied to federal accountability rules while removing them as a diploma gate. This shifts the state away from using a single high-stakes test to determine graduation.
Families of eighth graders should expect the new system to be confusing, since students choose when and which exams to take. Parents should check with schools on which Regents exams their children plan to sit for.
The takeaway
Graduation in New York will no longer hinge on passing Regents exams, but students will still sit for four of them. Families should plan exam timing and choices with their schools early.
What happens next
Regents exam changes take effect with the 2027-2028 school year, when the new diploma requirements begin.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for context on how high school graduation rules are changing.
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