THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, SECONDARY AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
ALBANY, NY 12234

1.  Who would be considered a transfer student?

A student who enters a New York State school from another state, another country, or another New York State school. Students who have been receiving home instruction and enroll in a school would also be considered transfer students.

2.  Who evaluates and grants transfer credit for students enrolling in a New York State high school?

The principal of a high school evaluates the transcript or other records of a transfer student enrolling in a New York State high school and awards the appropriate units of transfer credit towards a high school diploma.

3.  When a student transfers from one registered New York State high school to another registered New York State high school, must the receiving high school accept all the high school credits earned by the student?

Yes. The principal must grant transfer credit for all credit awarded by any registered New York State high school.

4.  Can a student earn transfer credit for work done at other educational or cultural institutions and for work done through independent study?

Yes. The principal, after consulting with relevant faculty, can award transfer credit for work done at other educational and cultural institutions and for work done through independent study. The decision should be based on whether the student’s record indicates that the work is consistent with New York State commencement level learning standards and is of comparable scope and quality to that which would have been done in the school awarding the credit.

5.  Must transfer students meet all the unit of credit requirements for a diploma?

Yes. Principals, while they have considerable discretion in reviewing a student's record, cannot waive the units of credit requirements for a diploma.

6.  What are the assessment requirements for transfer students?

The assessment requirements the student must meet to earn a diploma are based on the year in which the student entered grade 9 for the first time in New York State or in an out-of-state or out-of-country school.

7.  Must transfer students who are exempt from taking certain State assessments have their transcript and permanent records annotated?

Yes. Transfer students who are exempted from taking specific State assessments must have their transcripts and permanent records so annotated.

8.  What are the assessment requirements for transfer students first entering a New York State school during the 1999-2000 school year?

The requirements are determined by the year in which the student first entered grade 9 in a New York high school or an out-of-state or out-of-country school. The passing score on the assessments may vary during the phase-in of the revised graduation requirements based on whether a district allows a score of 55-64 on the Regents examinations to meet local diploma requirements or if safety net provisions are provided for transfer students with disabilities. The following indicates what tests the student must pass to earn a local diploma as well as what tests the principal may exempt the student.

Student Enters Grade 11 in 1999-2000 School Year
and First Entered Grade 9 in the 1997-98 School Year

9.  What are the assessment requirements for a student who enters a registered New York State high school for the first time in grade 11 in the 2000-2001 school year, but prior to the 2002-2003 school year?

To receive a local high school diploma, the student must pass the Regents Comprehensive English Examination, a Regents Examination in Mathematics, a Regents Examination in U.S. History and Government, and a Regents Examination in Science, or approved alternatives. The principal may exempt a student from the requirement to pass a Regents Examination in Global History and Geography which ordinarily would be taken and passed before the date of the student’s entry.

10.  What are the assessment requirements for a student who enters a registered New York State high school for the first time in grade 11 in the 2002-2003 school year and thereafter?

To receive a high school diploma, the student must pass the Regents Comprehensive English Examination, a Regents Examination in Mathematics, a Regents Examination in U.S. History and Government, and a Regents Examination in Science, or approved alternatives. The principal may exempt a student from the requirement to pass a Regents Examination in Global History and Geography which ordinarily would be taken and passed before the date of the student’s entry.

11.  What are the assessment requirements for a student who enters a registered New York State high school for the first time in grade 12 in the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter?

To receive a high school diploma, the student must pass the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English, a Regents Examination in Mathematics, and a Regents Examination in U.S. History and Government, or approved alternatives. The principal may exempt a student from the requirement for the Regents Examination in Science and the Regents Examination in Global History and Geography which ordinarily would be taken and passed before the date of the student’s entry.

12.  Are there any other exemptions that a principal may grant to a transfer student?

Yes. A student transferring between high schools in grade 11 or 12 may be exempt from the second language requirements of three units of credit in one language for a Regents diploma with advanced designation if the language in which the student began a second language sequence in grade 9 or 10 is not offered in the school to which the student has transferred. In such cases, the student shall complete three units of credit in second languages but not necessarily in a single language.