Important information about this year’s Regents exams

June 3, 2021

A message from BKW Secondary School Principal Dr. Mark Pitterson

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We are fast approaching the end of the school year and examination season. There are some major changes with this year’s Regents examinations that may affect your child.

1. There will only be four Regents examinations this year.
a. English Language Arts—June 17
b. Living Environment—June 22
c. Algebra l—June 23
d. Earth Science—June 24

All examinations will begin at 8:15 a.m. Students may ride the elementary bus to school, and a midday bus will take them home.

Passing this year’s Regents examinations will not be a requirement for graduation. All students who are currently enrolled in a Regents class that culminates in a Regents examination, including middle school students, will automatically receive an exemption from taking the exam as long as they pass the class. This exemption will be indicated on their transcript as an E.

Any student who fails the class must take and pass the Regents exam in order to get the Regents credit or they must attend summer school for the class and earn a passing grade by August 2021 in order to receive the exemption from taking the exam. Full remote students do not have to come to the building to take the Regents. They only need to pass the class in order to get the Regents credit.

Please see the New York State Education Department press release below:
April 15, 2021 at 9:15 a.m.

“The State Board of Regents has canceled all but the four federally mandated Regents exams for the 2020-2021 school year – English Language Arts, Algebra I, Earth Science and Living Environment. Additionally, the Regents exams will NOT be a graduation requirement for this year; students must simply pass their courses to graduate.

This also applies to non-seniors, as any student enrolled in a course that culminates in a Regents exam will receive an exemption based solely on passing the class. Please note that this includes the four Regents exams that are scheduled and required by the Federal government.

Students enrolled in virtual learning will not be compelled to take any Regents exams. All-virtual students will automatically receive an “Exempt” on all Regents courses they are taking, if they pass the class.

To summarize and recap, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) applied for a testing waiver, which was denied by the U.S. Department of Education. As a result of this waiver denial, NYSED has announced the following changes for this year’s slate of Regents exams:

  • Regents examinations required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act or ESSA (English Language Arts, Algebra I, Earth Science and Living Environment) will be administered during the month of June 2021. (Again, passing or taking the exams are not required; only passing the course is required to receive credit).
  • The August 2021 Regents exams have been canceled.
  • Additionally, the following applies for students who attempt the Regents exams:
    • Students’ actual exam grades will post on their official records;
    • Students are not required to pass the exam to meet the graduation requirement;
    • NYSED cannot confirm that a student’s performance on an exam won’t negatively impact their transcript, particularly when it comes to post-secondary institutions.”