New York High School Regents Exams: Do We Still Need Them?

New York High School Regents exams began in New York State in 1876, one hundred years after our nation’s Declaration of Independence. While they have evolved, they continue to this day, testing New York high school students in most academic subjects.

Students who passed their exams received Regents certificates. This has also evolved. High school students who pass the required Regents are awarded a Regents diploma, which has some bearing on the college admissions process.

The first Regents exams were: Algebra, American History, Elementary Latin, Natural Philosophy, and Physical Geography. First administered in June 1878, its purpose was to ensure that subjects were taught in sufficient depth so that students going on to more advanced study after high school would be well prepared.

Today, more than a century later, does it make sense for New York high schools to continue preparing students for Regents exams? Are Regents exams relevant, or are they holdovers from an educational system of yesteryear? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons.

Cons. Some argue that they should be discontinued because they are no longer relevant. They point out that since most students now take the SAT or ACT, Regents exams are no longer necessary to determine whether students have learned enough to go to college.

Even more prevalent is the position that it is not uncommon for students to commute during the school year only to consume the earlier Regents exams and learn the course on their own in the final weeks before the June exams.

advantage Let’s look at the other side of the argument, starting with the last point. Without a doubt, teachers prefer that students follow them closely throughout the year. However, an “A” grade on a Regents exam carries some weight. Somehow, between what the teacher did all year and what the student did, it worked. The student has learned the required material and has met the Regents standards.

Many disagree that Regents exams are no longer relevant. They continue to set high standards for each course. And, because everyone knows what the standards are, it’s easier for teachers to meet these standards, and it’s easier for students to learn the material covered. Also, because the standards remain stable over many years, textbook and review publishers have an incentive to produce high-quality, comprehensive books.

A related benefit of continuing Regents exams is the standards themselves. The standards are independent of the school. Because of this, they cannot be compromised by students, teachers, or parents. So, for example, if a large group of students in a school get together and essentially boycott a subject, they know that the teacher cannot give in to their demands and modify the standards.

In general, Regents standards and exams are a safety net for teachers and students. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The Regents provide teachers with a core curriculum. After that, teachers are free to be as ambitious and creative as they want. If you want to enrich the curriculum, great. Similarly, if enough students are capable or ambitious, they can encourage the teacher to go beyond the curriculum and enrich the course to meet her needs and interests.