US History and Government Regents Exam Canceled
In the wake of the massacre in Buffalo, state education department officials canceled the June 1 Regents exam for U.S. history and government. The test had already been printed and packed for shipment to schools, so there wasn’t time to modify it.
In a statement, Commissioner Betty Rosa cited content “that has the potential to compound student trauma.” She plans to ask the Board of Regents this month to approve graduation exemptions for students who were scheduled to take the exam in August and January.
History
New York’s education department has canceled an exam that was scheduled for June 1 because it includes content “that could potentially compound student trauma following the heinous mass shooting in Buffalo,” according to a districtwide memo from state education commissioner Betty Rosa. The question has not been made public.
The exam was developed by teachers more than two years ago and field-tested to ensure its content is educationally sound, but “the tragic events that took place in the City of Buffalo have created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment,” Rosa wrote in the memo.
The exam was already printed and packaged for shipment to schools, and officials say there isn’t enough time to produce a new test or modify the one that was originally set for next month. The department says it will ask the Board of Regents to allow students to get graduation credit for a course without taking the Regents exam, and it will consider exemptions for exams in August and January 2023.
Government
New York State Education Department officials have canceled next week’s U.S. History and Government Regents exam, which was scheduled to be administered on June 1. NYSED said it has decided that the content of the exam would “have the potential to compound student trauma” in the wake of last month’s mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket that left 10 people dead.
Rosa said it was not possible to modify the assessment for the short time frame before its administration. She also said it wouldn’t be possible to substitute a different exam for students who were slated to take the U.S. History and Government exam as part of their graduation requirements in August or January 2023.
Students who pass four or more Regents exams and earn a Regents Diploma can graduate from high school. That includes passing one exam in English Language Arts, one in mathematics, one in science, and two in social studies, as well as a locally-developed foreign language checkpoint exam that serves as the culmination of a six-credit sequence in a language other than English.
Social Studies
The Social Studies department enables students to develop the ability to make reasoned and informed decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. The curriculum promotes civic competence through the integrated study of history, geography, sociology, economics, political science, psychology, law and civics.
The NYSED announced that it has canceled the June 1 Regents examination for United States History and Government, citing content that has the potential to compound student trauma in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in Buffalo. The exam had already been printed and ready to ship to schools.
Please verify with your school the exact times you are expected to report for your local and Regents exams this June 2022. Students may not wear hoods or any other headgear that conceals their ears and face during the administration of state examinations. These items can be distracting to fellow students and interfere with the administration of tests.
English Language Arts
The ELA Regents exam is a standardized test that assesses students’ reading comprehension and textual analysis skills. It also tests their ability to craft an effective argument and communicate their ideas through writing. To pass the ELA Regents, students must earn a score of 65 or higher. Students can take the test up to three times to receive a passing score.
The state Education Department canceled next week’s US History and Government Regents exam because of the recent violence in Buffalo, but did not disclose the specific question that could have been potentially traumatic for students. NYSED has said the question was included after it was developed more than two years ago, and there wasn’t enough time to modify or produce a new version of the exam before June 1.
High school students must take five Regents exams to receive their diploma, including English language arts, math, science, social studies and history. IVY’s experienced Regents tutors help students prepare for these exams by creating personalized programs of study and guiding them to cultivate the critical skills of quick problem-solving and time management.