Requiring the New York State Regents exams for graduation holds value to student education. . The exams function as a comprehensive tool that simultaneously helps gain a deeper understanding of students’ knowledge, prepares them for future academic and professional challenges, and serves as a benchmark for educational standards in the state.
Although the exams are only required for students in New York State and hold some disadvantages, these exams provide educators with a standardized platform to assess the depth of students’ understanding, enabling tailored approaches to enhance or change learning outcomes. They also play a key role in fostering a rigorous academic environment that ensures students are well-equipped with the skills necessary for success in both higher education and the dynamic demands of the workforce.
Although advocates for the change in the requirement of Regents exams argue that minority and low-income students frequently face disadvantages leading to dropout scenarios after multiple failures in the Regents, they provide a standardized measure of academic achievement. This ensures a consistent benchmark across diverse schools and districts in New York State helping educators identify areas of strength and weakness.
Keeping Regents exams also helps maintain high expectations for all students and provides a reliable standard for assessing students outcomes. For example, if there was a change to the quality of students’ work ethic, such as losing motivation through getting rid of the Regents exams, it would weaken standards and offer students an easier path to graduation. Regents exams contribute to statewide uniformity in education standards. They enable education policymakers to assess the effectiveness of the curriculum being learned, and make informed decisions about improving education, ensuring a baseline of knowledge and skills for all New York State graduates.
“I believe that New York State Regents are an important tool to measure academic achievements across New York State and create a benchmark for students’ abilities,” said junior Anna Klein.
Keeping NYS Regents exams prepares students for the future by instilling a sense of academic rigor and accountability. Requiring Regents exams for graduation also signals a commitment to preparing students for college, career, and life success. These exams can serve as indicators of essential skills and knowledge necessary for future academic and professional pursuits, ensuring graduates are equipped for the challenges they will face ahead. In addition to preparing students for college, Regents exams contribute to workforce readiness by assessing critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. These are essential in various careers, and requiring regents exams for New York State graduates helps to ensure that students are equipped for the demands of the professional world after high school.
“For my future, the New York State Regents are important to help me learn and study knowledge that could be necessary for my career or future schooling,” said junior Zachary Tessler.
Requiring New York State Regents exams helps in gaining a comprehensive understanding of students’ knowledge by providing a standardized assessment tool. Regents exams provide a measure of students’ knowledge and skills. These exams cover a wide range of topics in various subjects, allowing educators to evaluate the depth of students’ understanding. This standardized assessment also helps educators, parents, and students gauge academic progress, identify areas for improvement, and possibly change educational strategies. Additionally, the consistent administration of Regents exams over time facilitates tracking individual student progress and adjusting teaching strategies to better meet the evolving needs of the diverse student population.
“Requiring New York State Regents is an accurate way to measure students’ abilities across different skill sets, and it helps educators gain a deeper understanding of how to help their students,” said junior Addyson Rejwan.
Continuing to require New York State Regents exams is key to the educational framework of New York. They offer a deeper understanding of students’ knowledge, influencing their preparedness for future endeavors, and maintaining a standardized benchmark for academic excellence across the state. By upholding the tradition of these exams, not only is accountability and educational rigor promoted, but it is ensured that students are ready for the challenges and opportunities that will be presented in the future.