Passing grade on Regents upped -- 55 to 65
City voices fears as 4-year phase-in begins
Jay Gallagher
and Gary McLendon
Staff writers
(June 22, 2005) ? The state Board of Regents followed through on a promise Tuesday to raise the minimum score required on Regents tests to graduate from high school to 65 from 55 over the next four years.
"Schools with low graduation rates have found ways to improve," state Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, adding that 65 is considered the score that indicates proficiency in a subject.
The new standard calls for students entering the ninth grade this fall to score at least 65 out of 100 on two of the five required Regents tests to graduate, as well as at least 55 on the other three.
The 65 minimum will increase to three exams for students entering ninth grade in 2006, four in 2007 and all five for students starting ninth grade in 2008.
The tests are given in math, English, science, global history and geography, and American history and government.
While 92 percent of high school seniors scored 55 or better on all their Regents tests this year, only 77 percent surpassed 65. The group that scored between 55 and 65 amounts to about 19,000 students.
Rochester school officials reacted with concern to the new standard, which figures to have the greatest impact on urban districts ? New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers and Syracuse ? where many students come from low-income homes.
Superintendent Manuel Rivera said raising the passing score without increasing funding could lead to higher dropout rates, especially among black and Latino males.
Rivera also said he's disappointed "there aren't provisions for any kind of alternative assessment process for someone to demonstrate they can meet a standard without taking ... high-stakes tests."
Pointing to state funding inequities, Rivera said he's concerned urban districts will continue to see higher student-teacher and student-counselor ratios, scarcer educational supplies and fewer extracurricular activities than suburban districts.
He did acknowledge that phasing in the plan "allows us to put into place some programs and services to make a difference."
The new policy allows for an appeals process for students who score within 3 points of the minimum. However, they will have other hoops to jump through, including a 95 percent attendance rate.
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This is pathetic. School officials crying about RAISING the minimum passing grade to 65. Come on!
As I grew up in NYS, I took Regents Exams and they're pretty easy. I think that lowest grade I ever got on one was 96 or 97.
The sad thing is, we're probably spending 10 - 13k per student for this abysmal performance.
City voices fears as 4-year phase-in begins
Jay Gallagher
and Gary McLendon
Staff writers
(June 22, 2005) ? The state Board of Regents followed through on a promise Tuesday to raise the minimum score required on Regents tests to graduate from high school to 65 from 55 over the next four years.
"Schools with low graduation rates have found ways to improve," state Education Commissioner Richard Mills said, adding that 65 is considered the score that indicates proficiency in a subject.
The new standard calls for students entering the ninth grade this fall to score at least 65 out of 100 on two of the five required Regents tests to graduate, as well as at least 55 on the other three.
The 65 minimum will increase to three exams for students entering ninth grade in 2006, four in 2007 and all five for students starting ninth grade in 2008.
The tests are given in math, English, science, global history and geography, and American history and government.
While 92 percent of high school seniors scored 55 or better on all their Regents tests this year, only 77 percent surpassed 65. The group that scored between 55 and 65 amounts to about 19,000 students.
Rochester school officials reacted with concern to the new standard, which figures to have the greatest impact on urban districts ? New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers and Syracuse ? where many students come from low-income homes.
Superintendent Manuel Rivera said raising the passing score without increasing funding could lead to higher dropout rates, especially among black and Latino males.
Rivera also said he's disappointed "there aren't provisions for any kind of alternative assessment process for someone to demonstrate they can meet a standard without taking ... high-stakes tests."
Pointing to state funding inequities, Rivera said he's concerned urban districts will continue to see higher student-teacher and student-counselor ratios, scarcer educational supplies and fewer extracurricular activities than suburban districts.
He did acknowledge that phasing in the plan "allows us to put into place some programs and services to make a difference."
The new policy allows for an appeals process for students who score within 3 points of the minimum. However, they will have other hoops to jump through, including a 95 percent attendance rate.
Link
This is pathetic. School officials crying about RAISING the minimum passing grade to 65. Come on!
As I grew up in NYS, I took Regents Exams and they're pretty easy. I think that lowest grade I ever got on one was 96 or 97.
The sad thing is, we're probably spending 10 - 13k per student for this abysmal performance.
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