THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	James A. Kadamus
COMMITTEE:	Full Board
TITLE OF ITEM:	Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Admission to and Passing Mark on Regents Examinations and College Credits to Meet High School Equivalency Diploma Requirements
DATE OF SUBMISSION:	June 28, 2004
PROPOSED HANDLING:	Discussion
RATIONALE FOR ITEM:	Implementation of Regents Policy
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY:

 

Attached are proposed amendments to sections 8.2 and 8.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and section 100.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, which are submitted as a companion to proposed amendments discussed by the Board of Regents in June relating to requirements for the conferral of a college degree and the home instruction of students of compulsory attendance age and college study (8 NYCRR sections 3.47 and 100.10).  Supporting materials for the proposed amendments are available upon request from the Secretary to the Board of Regents. 

 

            The purpose of the proposed amendment to Regents Rule section 8.2 is to require principals of public schools to admit to Regents examinations a candidate who is a school district resident and who seeks to take such examinations for the purpose of meeting the requirements for an earned degree pursuant to Regents Rule section 3.47(a)(2).  This proposed amendment also clarifies that a school administering a Regents examination may require a candidate who is not a district resident to pay a reasonable fee to cover administrative and rating costs.  The proposed amendment to Regents Rule section 8.3 merely makes a technical revision to conform the rule to the provisions of section 100.5(a)(5)(i) of the Commissioner's Regulations, which allows, at the discretion of the school district, a passing score of 55-64 on the five required Regents examinations as an option to meet local diploma requirements.  The proposed amendment to section 100.7 of the Commissioner's Regulations changes the distribution of the 24 college semester hours to satisfy high school equivalency diploma requirements.  This change is consistent with the pathway for home instructed students beyond compulsory school age to demonstrate high school academic proficiency for conferral of a college degree, as set forth in the proposed amendment to section 3.47.

 

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be published in the State Register no later than July 14, 2004.  The proposed amendments will be submitted for approval in September.

 

 

 

Attachment

AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

            Pursuant to Education Law sections 101, 207, 208, 209, 305, 308, 309 and 3204

1.  Section 8.2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents is amended, effective September 30, 2004, as follows:

8.2  Admission to examinations.

(a)  All pupils who have studied a subject at an approved school for a period of time not less than that prescribed by the commissioner shall have the right to be admitted to the Regents examination at such school.

            (b)  Except as provided in subdivision (c) of this section, other persons may be admitted to Regents examinations, for the purpose of demonstrating academic proficiency acquired through independent, out-of-school or other study, at the discretion of the principal of the school administering the examinations.  Subject to the requirements of subdivision (c) of this section, the principal of a public school administering the examinations shall admit a candidate who is a school district resident and who seeks to take such examination(s) for the purpose of meeting the requirements for an earned degree pursuant to section 3.47(a)(2) of this Title.   If the candidate is enrolled during the regular school year in an approved high school other than the school in which the examination is to be administered, the written permission of the principal of such other school shall be required.  The school administering the examination may require that candidates provide adequate prior notice [,] and present satisfactory personal identification, and may require a candidate who is not a district resident to pay a reasonable fee to cover administrative and rating costs.

            (c)  Only those persons who have satisfactorily met the laboratory requirements as stated in the State syllabus for a science shall be admitted to a Regents examination in such science.

2.  Section 8.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents is amended, effective September 30, 2004, as follows:

8.3   Passing mark.

[The] Except as provided in section 100.5(a)(5)(i) of this Title, the minimum passing mark in Regents examinations shall be 65 percent.

            3.  Paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section 100.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective September 30, 2004, as follows:

(2)       In order to receive a high school equivalency diploma, candidates shall:

(i)  .   .   .

(ii)  .   .   .

(iii)  provide satisfactory evidence that they have successfully completed 24 [credits (semester hours)] semester hours  or the equivalent as a recognized candidate for a college-level degree or certificate at an approved institution.  Beginning with applications made on or after September 1, 2000 and before September 30, 2004, the 24 [credits] semester hours shall be distributed as follows:  six [credits] semester hours or the equivalent in English language arts including writing, speaking and reading (literature); six [credits] semester hours or the equivalent in mathematics; three [credits] semester hours or the equivalent in natural [science] sciences; three [credits] semester hours or the equivalent in social [science] sciences; three [credits] semester hours or the equivalent in humanities; and three [credits] semester hours or the equivalent in career and technical education and/or foreign languages.  Beginning with applications made on or after September 30, 2004, the 24 semester hours shall be distributed as follows:  six semester hours or the equivalent in English language arts including writing, speaking and reading (literature); three semester hours or the equivalent in mathematics; three semester hours or the equivalent in natural sciences; three semester hours or the equivalent in social sciences; three semester hours or the equivalent in humanities; and six semester hours or the equivalent in any other courses within the registered degree or certificate program.