New York is poised to repeat a mistake seen in neighboring states. The New York State Board of Regents voted on September 14 to remove the requirement for high school students to pass Regents exams to graduate. This decision aims to introduce a system with multiple graduation pathways.

Critics argue that eliminating the Regents exams will negatively affect students and reduce accountability for schools. The exams have historically functioned as a standardized measure of academic achievement across the state. By removing this consistent standard, some believe that it will be harder to ensure that schools maintain education quality.