The state Board of Regents today may eliminate 13 of 16 Regents exams and end translations into any foreign language other than Spanish.
The only exams left would be one exam each in math, English and science. Exams would be given only once a year. The January and August exams would be eliminated.
The changes could save the state more than $13 million in a year when every agency is trying to help fill the $9 billion deficit in the upcoming 2010-11 state budget.
Here’s the problem: Those tests are the current way the state decided whether a student can graduate or not, and whether a school district is doing a good job or not.
Cutting the exams is not a sure thing.
Senior Deputy Education Commissioner John King said in a statement, “It is important to note that no cuts have been proposed and no decisions have yet been made; the Regents will simply be discussing various options at this time.”
The document prepared by King for the meeting also urges the Regents to consider moving assessments online and to cut other costs. It does not say how students will graduate in such a system, or how schools will be assessed.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the web, here.
missing or outdated ad config
