Dear Parents and Guardians,

You may have recently seen or heard information regarding upcoming changes to New York State's Regents examinations and graduation requirements. We want to take this opportunity to provide some clarification about what these changes mean for our students and families, both now and in the coming years.

First and foremost, Regents examinations are not going away at this time. Until the New York State Education Department (NYSED) provides final regulations and additional guidance, students should continue attending classes, preparing for Regents examinations, and taking all required assessments, including those scheduled during the 2026–2027 school year. Students and families must understand that recent announcements do not allow students to skip a scheduled Regents examination.

The New York State Board of Regents is moving toward a new graduation framework that would establish a single New York State diploma beginning with the 2027–2028 school year. Under the proposed timeline, students graduating in January 2028 or later would no longer be required to pass a specific set of Regents examinations to earn a high school diploma.

However, this does not mean Regents examinations or other State assessments will be eliminated. Students will continue to participate in State assessments as required, and these examinations may continue to serve important purposes, including measuring student achievement, meeting State and federal accountability requirements, and qualifying students for certain diploma seals or endorsements.

For students graduating before January 2028, all current graduation requirements remain in place, including applicable Regents examination requirements, alternative pathways, appeals, and exemptions.

As New York State moves forward with these changes, we anticipate receiving additional information regarding graduation expectations, State assessments, diploma requirements, and opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and achievement.

We recognize that changes to graduation requirements can create questions and uncertainty for students and families. Please know that our priority remains ensuring that every student is appropriately prepared, supported, and positioned for success beyond high school.

We will continue to monitor updates from NYSED and communicate important information as additional guidance becomes available. In the meantime, our expectations remain unchanged: students should continue working toward meeting their course requirements, preparing for scheduled assessments, and making progress toward graduation.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to provide the best possible educational opportunities for our students.