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Syracuse Reacts to New High School Graduation Requirements Syracuse Reacts to New High School Graduation Requirements

By TJ O'Sullivan

Emily Coffey: THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT JUST PROPOSED A NEW SET OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOLERS. OUR TJ O’SULLIVAN IS LIVE FROM BISHOP LUDDEN HIGH SCHOOL, TJ THIS NEW PROPOSAL IS A BIG CHANGE.

TJ O’Sullivan: Yeah Emily, I’m standing here outside of Bishop Ludden High School, one of the five Syracuse City School District high schools as a part of the district, and people are buzzing. Not just because of the upcoming summer, but also the upcoming regents exams, which in the next couple years may not even be required.

O’Sullivan: THE BOARD OF REGENTS MET MONDAY TO DISCUSS A NEW SET OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOLERS IN NEW YORK STATE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES ON THE DOCKET: NO LONGER REQUIRING NEW YORK STUDENTS TO PASS THE STATE REGENT EXAMS IN ORDER TO GRADUATE.
CURRENTLY, STUDENTS MUST TAKE AND PASS FIVE REGENT EXAMS SPANNING ACROSS ENGLISH, MATH, HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND A SECONDARY LANGUAGE.
THE DECISION HAS DIVIDED NEW YORK OFFICIALS IN ALBANY, AND EVEN THOSE HERE ON THE STREETS OF SYRACUSE, LIKE JASON BUTLER.

Jason Butler: “I think getting rid of them would be better. It didn’t really help me. There’s more requirements to get a regents diploma than there was just a regular high school diploma.”

O’Sullivan: OTHERS, LIKE VICTORIA TOWNSON, BELIEVE THAT THE CONTENT THE REGENTS TEST IS VITAL FOR KIDS.

Victoria Townson: “All those things are important. Its the schools job to prepare us for the education. I feel like we need to put the funding and the resources thats going to prepare the next generation and educate us. Not just throw an exam and say ‘here’s the exam.'”

O’Sullivan: WHILE BUTLER AND TOWNSON DISAGREE ON THE TESTS THEMSELVES, THERE IS ONE THING IN REGARDS TO EDUCATION THAT THE TWO AGREE ON: SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

Townson: “You have to prepare them mentally, ready to learn so that when they sit down, they’re prepared. And ready.”

Butler: “I think it has to be more adaptive to, you know, what kids want to do with their lives and stuff. You know, the narrative is just go to college, go to college and go to college. And I think there’s so many more other opportunities.”

O’Sullivan: And guys, one of the representatives in the Syracuse City School District, Brad Vivacqua, I reached out to him and he said that the district has no comment at this time but they are going to be watching this proposal very closely. Emily and Justin, back to you.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The New York State Education Department Board of Regents met Monday to discuss a new set of graduation requirements for high schoolers, which included making the New York State Regents Exams nonessential for receiving a high school diploma.

The NYS Regents Diploma requirements currently state that each student must pass all five regents exams in order to graduate high school. Those exams cover content that spans across five subjects: math, English, history, science, and a secondary language. These tests are designed to measure a student’s comprehension of essential topics in each subject.

“From the very beginning of this effort, I have urged people to understand that our work is about raising the bar for all,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. in a statement. “True equity and excellence in education is achievable, but only if we provide all students with meaningful educational opportunities and multiple avenues for them to demonstrate their mastery of the state’s rigorous learning standards.”

The proposal to do away with the Regents Diploma requirement has sparked debate across the state, including in Central New York. Jason Butler, a graduate of Liverpool High School in Syracuse, is in support of the change.

“I think getting rid of them would be better. [They] didn’t really help me,” said Butler. “There’s more requirements to get a Regents Diploma than there was just a regular high school diploma.”

Others, like former New York City native Victoria Townson, believe that Regents are essential to the learning experience. She said, however, that schools are not preparing students well enough to take these tests.

“All those [topics] are important. It’s the schools job to prepare [students] for the education,” said Townson. “I feel like we need to put the funding and the resources that’s going to prepare the next generation and educate us. Not just throw an exam or say ‘here’s the exam. ‘”

Townson’s view is shared by Butler.

“I think it has to be more adaptive to what kids want to do with their lives,” said Butler. “The narrative is just ‘go to college, go to college and go to college,’ and I think there’s so many other opportunities.”

NYSED released in a statement that projected timelines and a final proposal for the change will be presented to the Board of Regents in November 2024.

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