Regents Ease Diploma Requirements for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities will now have more flexibility to earn a high school diploma, under new rules approved Tuesday by the New York State Board of Regents.

The changes, which take effect June 20, will allow students with Individualized Education Programs to earn a "local diploma" by passing the English and math Regents exams. For other subjects, if students do not pass the exit exams, the new rules allow superintendents to determine whether students have met state learning standards by reviewing coursework and grades.    

"I think it's really a critical thing for us to be able to provide opportunities and options for those students for a local diploma as long as we still are maintaining the higher standards — which we are," said State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia.

The local diploma is only available to students in special education programs or who meet specific requirements to graduate with lower exam scores. Other students must fulfill the requirements to earn a Regents or Advanced Regents diploma, which requires passing more exams and with higher scores.

Many parents and advocates for students with disabilities pushed for the change, saying that the reliance on standardized tests to demonstrate a mastery of standards was an obstacle for many students, even with testing accommodations.   

The graduation rate for students with disabilities last year was 50 percent, compared to 83 percent of general education students statewide.