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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 21, 2005

For More Information, Contact:
Jonathan Burman, Tom Dunn, or Alan Ray at (518) 474-1201
Internet: http://www.nysed.gov

State Board of Regents Approves Moving to 65

As Regents Exam Passing Score, Adding Appeals Process

        The State Board of Regents today approved moving to 65 as the passing score for Regents Exams. The transition would be phased in as follows:

  • For students entering 9th grade in 2005: General education students must have at least two scores at 65 or above on the five required Regents exams and all scores at 55 or above.
     
  • For students entering 9th grade in 2006:  General education students must have at least three scores at 65 or above on the five required Regents exams and all scores at 55 or above.
     
  • For students entering 9th grade in 2007:  General education students must have at least four scores at 65 or above on the five required Regents exams and all scores at 55 or above.
  • For students entering 9th grade in 2008:  General education students must pass all five required Regents exams at a score of 65 or above.

        Students would also be required, as before, to pass their courses and earn 22 course credits.

       “The public has demanded that New York ensure students graduate from high schools with the knowledge and skills they need to become good and productive citizens and to compete in an increasingly more demanding global economy,” Regents Chancellor Robert Bennett said. “That’s why we have raised standards and required that students pass Regents Exams. To transition to the higher standards, we allowed students to pass with a score of 55 for several years. But 65 represents proficiency. It’s time to move to that higher standard.”

       “Over the past several years, schools have helped more and more students get a better education and achieve higher standards,” State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said. “More students are passing their courses and taking and passing Regents Exams. New York is ready to move to a score of 65 on Regents Exams; that is the standard of proficiency.”

       The Regents also approved an appeals process in which students who score within three points of 65 and have achieved the standards would be eligible to appeal if they meet the following criteria:

  1. Take the Regents Exam in question two times.
  2. Have a score on the Regents Exam under appeal within 3 points of the 65 passing score on that exam, up to a total of two exams.
  3. Have a course average in the subject under appeal that meets or exceeds the required passing grade by the school.  The course average must be based on the student's official transcript that records grades achieved by the student in each quarter of the school year.
  4. Present evidence that they have taken advantage of academic help provided by the school in the subject tested by the Regents Exam under appeal.
  5. Have an attendance rate of 95 percent for the school year (except for excused absences) during which they last took the Regents Exam under appeal.  Local school districts set their own policy for what is considered an excused or unexcused absence.
  6. Be recommended for an exemption to the graduation requirement by their teacher or Department chairperson in the subject of the Regents Exam under appeal.

       During the past several years, student performance on Regents Exams has improved. For example, the percentage of students scoring 65 on English over four years of high school has increased from 75 percent for those who started 9th grade in 1996 to 83 percent for those who started 9th grade in 2000. The percentage scoring 55-64 has declined from 16 percent to 5 percent for those same classes. The percentage scoring below 55 has stayed about the same, at 4 percent.

       High schools and school districts have been working to identify students who arrive with academic problems and provide extra help. They are:

  • Identifying students who arrive in 9th grade having scored in level 1 or 2 on the 8th grade English and Math tests, evaluating their academic difficulties, and then intervening to help them.
  • Putting in a “catch-up” curriculum of more intensive work.
  • Providing additional work in reading and writing that crosses all subjects.
  • Breaking up large high schools into smaller learning communities.
  • Increasing professional development for teachers.
  • Improving student attendance with more focus on reaching students and parents at home.

       Students with disabilities can still pass the Regents Competency Tests instead of Regents Exams to earn a local diploma. This provision will continue for students entering grade 9 prior to September 2010.  Students using this provision will receive a local diploma.  In addition, the low-pass option of scoring between 55-64 on the required Regents Exams to learn a local diploma will continue to be available for students with disabilities.

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