The Regents are changing. What it means for your child

In September 2026, New York's Board of Regents decided that high school students will no longer need to pass a set of Regents exams to graduate. Here is what we know so far, in plain terms.

Who it affects

The change starts with the Class of 2028, today's 11th graders, and every class after them. The state plans to bring the new rules to the Board in early 2027, and they take effect in the 2027–28 school year.

One diploma

Instead of a local, Regents, or Advanced Regents diploma, New York will award a single high school diploma.

The exams are not going away

Regents exams will still be given. The state describes them as one of several ways students can show what they know. Schools will also build their own assessments, and the state is creating a new high school performance assessment.

What we think matters now

• Course grades carry more weight. When a test no longer decides graduation, the class grade and the teacher's assessments do.
• The content hasn't changed. Geometry, Algebra 2 and Chemistry are still the same courses, and colleges still look at how well a student knows them.
• Details are still coming. Rules for current seniors and for the transition years are still being written. We'll update this page as the state publishes them.

How we help

Our Geometry, Algebra 2 and Chemistry classes follow the course in order, with practice from real past exams, so your child does well in the class and is ready for any exam the school gives.

Sources: Spectrum News, Chalkbeat. Regents is a program of the New York State Education Department, which is not affiliated with Sanidas Tutoring.