New York State is moving closer to giving high school students "multiple pathways" to graduation, by letting them replace one of the five Regents exams required for graduation with an exam more closely aligned with their career interests.
The Board of Regents voted Monday to send the plan out for public comment, before formally approving it in January.
Students would still have to take Regents exams in English, math and science. But instead of two history classes, they could opt for a new exam in a trade such as accounting or culinary arts. They could also add an additional Regents exam in science, math, social studies or an approved alternative in arts and languages. High school students graduating in June could be the first to take advantage of the new requirements.
"The premise of all this is to increase the relevancy of educational opportunities for students as we head into this 21st century," said Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch.
Tisch and Education Commissioner John King said they were driven to make the change because only 37 percent of state students graduate ready for college and careers, despite the state's overall four-year graduation rate of 75 percent.
"Economic development is bound up with ensuring that we have a prepared workforce," said King, adding that other countries pay more attention to preparing secondary school students for careers.
But they insisted the state is not going back to to the old vocational school model that wasn't as academically demanding. One principal, who didn't want to be identified, confirmed that some of the certification tests may even be too difficult because they're more at a college level.
There are already 13 nationally recognized exams New York can use in career and technical education, including culinary, automotive, information technology, metalworking, graphics and printing, electronics, agriculture and advertising. The state will explore adding other career tests.
Katherine Wylde, president and CEO of the business group Partnership for New York City, said employers have been frustrated because it would often take high school students five years instead of four to pass the five required Regents exams plus a certification test. By allowing that certification test to also count towards graduation, she said the Board of Regents is legitimizing career education.
"It will engage employers much more with the schools if they see that this is being really taken seriously," she said.
Benjamin Grossman, principal of the Bronx Academy for Software Engineering, said he was excited about the change.
"The global exam is incredibly content heavy," he said of the Regents exam in world history, which is given after two years of course work and has a high failure rate. Students would still need to pass the global history class for graduation. But Grossman is hoping they can swap the Regents for a software certification test, which is under consideration by the state.
Tisch said she would encourage Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration to add more successful career and technical education programs, as well as high schools such as P-Tech where students can simultaneously earn an associate's degree. The state is preparing to review the city's plan to improve about 250 struggling schools.
"I truly believe that if we said to the city we would like 1,000 CTE seats in the borough of the Bronx, or in Brooklyn or in East New York over the course of the next year, I think that is the benchmark that they are prepared to think about," Tisch said.
New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña applauded the Regents' vote.
“We are dedicated to providing rigorous instruction, increasing internship opportunities, helping students obtain industry-recognized credentials, expanding our CTE programs and ongoing collaboration with external partners," she said in a statement.
New York high schoolers will be able to swap out a history test required for graduation for an exam of their choice, in subjects such as information technology or culinary arts.
