New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks on Wednesday lent his support to a recent state Education Department proposal to drop the Regents exams as a high school graduation requirement.
“I’m in favor of it,” Banks said on PIX11 Morning News, “and not in lowering standards. You have to have academically rigorous programming. But I think that there are other ways for kids to demonstrate what they know and what they’re able to do.”
His remarks came after state officials released their vision to overhaul the public school diploma earlier this week to a mixed response.
While many teachers and advocates support a shift away from exit exams, which remain in use in just nine states, others raised concerns it could open the floodgates to diminished expectations, leaving graduates unprepared for college and the workforce.
The changes are not final until the Board of Regents approves them, but Banks suggested the tests should not be as high-stakes.
“I wasn’t a great test taker. It shouldn’t come down to one day, one test, two hours that determines all of the things that you’ve learned for the entire year. I think that there are many other ways for us to look at that,” he said.
“I salute the Commissioner [Betty Rosa] for at least opening this up for a community conversation.”
Commissioner of Education and president of the University of the State of New York Betty A. Rosa,
Hans Pennink/AP Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa in 2022.
Under current state policy, most graduates have to pass at least four Regents exams and another state-approved assessment, and meet certain credit requirements.
In addition to the Regents proposal, state officials also plan to offer only one type of New York diploma, rework credit requirements, and broaden the skills and knowledge students need to graduate.
The state Education Department is hosting a series of public hearings between July and October on the changes. Officials are expected to present an implementation plan to the Board of Regents in November.
