New York is ending the requirement to pass Regents exams to graduate, starting the 2027-28 school year — but the exams themselves aren't disappearing. Find your child's class year and see exactly what changes, in plain English.
Last reviewed June 2026 against NYSED & Board of Regents sources · Updated as the rules are finalized
Most headlines say “New York is dropping the Regents.” Here's the precise version: New York is ending the requirement to pass Regents exams to graduate, beginning the 2027-28 school year. The exams are not being eliminated — they keep being offered (federal law still requires state testing), and they remain an optional way to show proficiency and earn diploma honors. In place of “pass these exams,” New York adopts a single state diploma and the Portrait of a Graduate — six competencies a student can demonstrate through projects, portfolios, work-based learning, and exams.
Source: Chalkbeat — Board of Regents adopts Portrait of a Graduate (Jul 2025)
The change phases in by class year. Find your child's expected graduation year below.
The last cohort that must still earn passing Regents scores to graduate under the current rules. If your child graduates in 2027, plan as you do today.
These students still take Regents exams (federal rules keep them in place), but a passing score is no longer required to earn a diploma — it becomes one of several ways to show proficiency.
The first cohort expected to graduate fully under the new credit and Portrait-of-a-Graduate framework. Exact requirements are still being finalized by the Board of Regents.
Not sure of the graduation year? It's the spring four years after a student starts 9th grade — a current 9th grader in 2026-27 is on track for the class of 2030.
Source: NYSED — Graduation Measures FAQ
NYSED first presents the “NY Inspires” plan to the Board of Regents, proposing an end to the Regents exam graduation requirement.
On July 14, 2025, the Board of Regents formally adopts the six-competency Portrait of a Graduate framework.
Current rules stay in force. Students graduating now still need passing Regents scores — nothing changes yet.
Beginning this school year, passing Regents is no longer required to graduate. The exams are still offered; a single diploma replaces the three tiers (first January 2028 graduates).
New graduation measures — including the statewide transcript and full competency expectations — are expected to be fully in place.
Source: Chalkbeat — NY plans to end the Regents requirement by 2027-28 (Nov 2024)
| Now | From 2027-28 | |
|---|---|---|
| To earn a diploma | Pass ~5 Regents exams (score 65+) | Show proficiency through multiple pathways — exams are one option, not the only one |
| Are the exams still given? | Yes — required to take and pass | Yes — still offered and still taken; a passing score is no longer required to graduate |
| Diploma types | Local, Regents, and Advanced Regents (three tiers) | A single New York State High School Diploma, with honor endorsements |
| How readiness is shown | Mainly the exam score | Capstones, portfolios, work-based learning, research, and other evidence — plus exams if chosen |
| Framework | Exam-based graduation requirement | The “Portrait of a Graduate” — six competencies under the NY Inspires plan |
| First year in effect | Through the 2026-27 school year | Phasing in from the 2027-28 school year |
Source: NYSED — Graduation Measures FAQ
Adopted by the Board of Regents in July 2025, it's the framework replacing “pass these exams.” Six competencies, shown through projects and portfolios — not just one test day. Here's each in plain English.
Solid grounding in core subjects — the reading, writing, and math foundation Regents always measured.
Analyzing problems and evidence, not just recalling facts for one big exam.
Generating and testing original ideas — the kind of work shown through projects.
Writing and speaking clearly, including presenting and defending work.
Understanding diverse perspectives and one’s role in a wider community.
Setting goals and owning one’s learning and next steps after high school.
Source: Chalkbeat — Board of Regents adopts Portrait of a Graduate (Jul 2025)
They still can. Even when a passing score isn't required to graduate, strong Regents results can earn diploma endorsements and act as readiness evidence on a transcript that SUNY, CUNY, and some out-of-state colleges may weigh. For a college-bound student, taking the exams they're prepared for usually still helps — exact admissions practices after the phase-out are still settling.
Some are being updated, not removed. The Algebra 1 Regents is being aligned to newer standards. The Living Environment exam is transitioning toward a “Life Science: Biology” exam. ELA and other core subjects remain — what shifts is that passing them is no longer required to graduate, not that they vanish.
If your child is in middle or high school in New York, here's the honest, no-panic version — what actually changes, what doesn't, and what to do about it.
This is the part most headlines blur. New York is ending the rule that students must earn a passing Regents score to graduate. The exams themselves keep being given (federal law still requires state testing), and your child can still take them.
If your child is on track to graduate in 2027 or earlier, the current rules still apply — they’ll need passing Regents scores. The change phases in starting the 2027-28 school year, by class.
Even when optional, strong Regents scores can earn diploma endorsements and signal readiness to colleges — including SUNY and CUNY. For a college-bound student, sitting the exams they’re prepared for usually still helps.
Capstones, portfolios, projects, and presentations move to the center. The same grade-level reading, writing, and math still matter most — but how kids show what they know is broadening beyond a single test day.
Rubrics and the exact mechanics of the new pathways are being finalized through roughly 2029-30. Treat any source claiming precise new requirements with caution — including this one. We update this page as the Board of Regents votes.
Source: NYSED — Graduation Measures FAQ
New York is still writing the details. As of June 2026, the exact rubrics, the full mechanics of each new pathway, and some cohort-by-cohort specifics are being finalized through roughly 2029-30. We report what NYSED and the Board of Regents have officially confirmed, flag what's still in progress, and update this page as they vote — so be cautious of any source claiming precise new requirements that aren't yet set.
Check the latest directly from the state: NYSED — Graduation Measures FAQ.
Not exactly. New York is ending the requirement that students PASS Regents exams to graduate, starting the 2027-28 school year. The exams themselves are not being eliminated — they continue to be offered, and students will still take state assessments under federal rules. The change is to the graduation requirement, not the test.
Yes. Regents exams will still be administered after 2027. What changes is that a passing Regents score will no longer be required to earn a diploma — it becomes one of several ways a student can demonstrate proficiency. Federal law (ESSA) still requires New York to test students, so the exams remain.
For students graduating in 2027 or earlier: yes, the current rules still apply. Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, passing Regents will no longer be required to graduate — students can show proficiency through multiple pathways instead. The change phases in by class year.
Right now, yes — the current rule requires passing scores (generally 65) on about five Regents exams. That rule stays in place through the 2026-27 school year. Starting 2027-28, a passing score is no longer required to graduate, though students may still take the exams.
New York is moving to a “Portrait of a Graduate” framework under its NY Inspires plan. Instead of passing a set of exams, students demonstrate six core competencies through multiple pathways — capstone projects, portfolios, work-based learning, research, and yes, Regents exams if they choose. A single state diploma replaces the old three-tier system.
Adopted by the Board of Regents on July 14, 2025, the Portrait of a Graduate defines six competencies every NY graduate should demonstrate: Academically Prepared, Critical Thinker, Creative Innovator, Effective Communicator, Global Citizen, and Reflective & Future-Focused. Students can show these through projects and portfolios, not just exams.
Starting the 2027-28 school year, students will be able to graduate by demonstrating proficiency through pathways other than passing Regents — such as capstones, portfolios, or work-based learning. Note that some state testing is still federally required, so students may still take certain exams even if a passing score isn’t needed to graduate.
It depends on their expected graduation year. Students graduating in 2027 or earlier follow the current rules. A current freshman who graduates in 2028 or later will likely fall under the new model, where passing Regents is no longer required to graduate. Because the rules phase in by cohort, find your child’s class year to know exactly.
Likely yes. The requirement to pass Regents to graduate ends starting the 2027-28 school year, so students graduating in 2028 are expected to be in the first wave who no longer need passing scores to earn a diploma. They will still take exams, but won’t need to pass them to graduate.
For most students, yes — Regents exams are still given, and some state testing is federally required. What changes starting 2027-28 is that you no longer need a passing score to graduate. If you’re college-bound, taking the exams you’re prepared for can still be worthwhile.
No. The Algebra 1 Regents is being updated to align with newer standards, not eliminated. Like other Regents exams, it will still be offered — but a passing score will no longer be required to graduate once the new rules phase in starting 2027-28.
New York has been transitioning its science Regents to align with newer standards, and the Living Environment exam is being phased toward a “Life Science: Biology” exam. The science requirement itself remains; this is a content update to the exam, separate from the broader move to make passing Regents optional for graduation.
Through the 2026-27 school year, yes. Starting 2027-28, a passing ELA Regents score is no longer required to graduate, though the exam is still offered and English remains a core requirement met through standards and pathways.
They still can. Strong Regents scores can earn diploma endorsements and serve as evidence of readiness on a transcript, which SUNY, CUNY, and some out-of-state colleges may consider. Even as passing becomes optional for graduation, college-bound students often benefit from taking and doing well on Regents. Exact admissions practices after the phase-out are still evolving.
For a college-bound student, usually yes — strong scores can earn endorsements and strengthen a transcript. For a student whose path doesn’t depend on those signals, the new pathways (capstones, portfolios, work-based learning) may be a better fit. The right answer depends on your child’s goals, which is exactly what the new system is meant to allow.
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