This article compiles various letters to the editor regarding the State Board of Regents' decision to eliminate mandatory Regents exams for high school graduation in New York. The letters, dated September 17, 2026, express diverse opinions on this policy change; some view it as detrimental to academic standards and accountability, while others see it as necessary to adapt education methods to modern demands.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Betty Rosa, New York's education commissioner, expressed enthusiasm about the state Board of Regents' decision to eliminate required Regents exams for high school graduation starting from 2028. The move aims to maintain rigorous standards while offering students more opportunities to showcase their skills through various means beyond standardized testing. Felicia Thomas-Williams, a Long Island representative on the board and former school principal, also backed the change, arguing it isn't about dumbing down education but rather assessing students in ways that best highlight their strengths.
However, critics such as Frank Brady of Yonkers argue this decision will likely lead to increased graduation rates without corresponding improvements in educational quality. They view the shift away from mandatory Regents exams as a significant rollback in academic rigor and accountability, potentially undermining the value of New York’s high school diplomas.
Written for “NY Scraps High School Exams” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 14591: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-17
The New York Board of Regents has determined that passing the Regents will no longer be required to earn a high school diploma (“Ending required Regents,” Sept. 15).
asserted
passing → determine → Regents
They demanded great accountability from teachers and fostered a modicum of academic respect for the diploma.
asserted
They → demand → diploma
Now that the basic safeguard has been removed, expect graduation rates to increase while real learning decreases.
Frank Brady
Yonkers
The quality of New York’s education system has been on a long downward spiral.
asserted
quality → remove → spiral
ago, the CUNY system eliminated educational standards with its open admissions policy, which proved to be a disaster and that ultimately was abandoned.
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that → eliminate → policy
Now, after allowing Regents standards to be watered down, the Board of Regents has decided to stop requiring the tests.
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Board → allow → tests
This is a fool-hearted decision supported by ultra-liberal educators who don’t want to overwork or educate our kids.
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who → support → kids
The old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” seems to have eluded the New York Board of Regents.
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it → break → Regents
Over the years, the exams have been a challenge for students, but receiving a diploma gave them a sense of pride.
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receiving → receive → pride
In today’s fast-paced, technological world, educators need varied methods to expose students to real-world demands.
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educators → pace → demands
The proposed hands-on learning framework should be combined with Regents testing, in the hope of producing better-prepared students.
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framework → propose → students
This decline keeps progressing as we watch.
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we → keep → ?
We expect students to know fundamentals in grade school.
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students → expect → school
If you give a diploma at graduation, at least have them understand who the first president of our country was.
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president → give → country
The Board of Regents is admitting they’ve done everything possible to raise reading scores and have failed.
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they → admit → scores
Now the Department of Education will become a diploma mill, producing useless graduates who will not be able to hold jobs.
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who → become → jobs
A vicious cycle that produces more government-dependent “graduates.”
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that → produce → graduates
The Issue: Mayor Mamdani cultivating extremist social-media influencers to push his political policies.
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Mamdani → cultivate → policies
Mayor Mamdani’s effort to recruit social-media influencers reminds me of Joseph Stalin using the media as an organ of the state (“Mam’s slimy secret signal squad,” Adam Lehodey, Sept. 15).
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Stalin → recruit → state
The danger of an administration having a private army of fawning influencers is that it can push messages to alter facts and history.
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it → have → facts
New York City under the current administration is like a frog being boiled alive.
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City → boil → frog
We’re the frog in the pot and the administration’s army of influencers is telling us to embrace the comforting warmth of the water.
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army → ’re → water
These lunatic Mamdani influencers don’t belong anywhere near public office issuing statements about our country.
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influencers → belong → country
If they hate America so much, why are they still living here?
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they → hate → America
There are ships and planes leaving virtually every minute to places they would be much happier, like China or Russia.
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they → be → China
I pray they all leave soon and chip in to buy a ticket for their commie-loving mayor.
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they → pray → mayor
Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
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Letters → edit → clarity
The Aporia
