The New York State Education Department makes its required secondary-level State examinations available to students three times per year. These tests are offered more frequently than are those in most or all other states. Thus, the Department views the January Regents examination period as primarily a makeup opportunity for students and will treat it as such.

With the exception of component retests in English and mathematics, the Department does not have the capacity to offer added testing opportunities prior to the June 2005 Regents examination period. Students who miss any scheduled examination in January will have to participate in component retesting, if eligible, or take the test when it is next offered. With the permission of their schools, students may also, if appropriate, take Department-approved alternative examinations in lieu of Regents examinations and Regents Competency Tests. The list of Department-approved alternatives to Regents examinations can be found at:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/hsinfogen/List%20of%20Approved%20Alternative%20Exams%20updated.htm.

The list of Department approved alternatives to Regents Competency Tests can be found in Appendix II (p. 39) of the School Administrator’s Manual. This document can be found at: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/hsinfogen/hsinfogenarch/sam2001.pdf.

Additional information concerning the rules to follow in the event of inclement weather during the Regents examination period may be found on page 4 of the School Administrator’s Manual. Information on time regulations can be found in the School Administrator’s Manual and in the Directions for Administering and Scoring Regents Examinations - January Administration, which can be found at:

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/2005/geninfo/testadmininfo/januaryregexaminfo/ja05adminscorregexams.htm.