Will Regents Exams Pass the Test?

Regents exams: they're a high school tradition. Love them or hate them, they seem to take over every student's end-of-the-year routine. However, the New York State Board of Regents is facing cuts because of the state's budget problems. Regents exams might be eliminated due to their high costs.

Although major eliminations are unlikely, the New York State Education Department is considering a plan that cuts exams in specific subjects such as foreign language and history.

Which tests are on the chopping block? The first Regents exams to go would probably be those in global history, U.S. history, and foreign language. Eliminating the global history Regents, the U.S. history Regents, and the fifth- and eighth- grade social studies exams would save about $1.6 million, according to John B. King Jr., state senior deputy for P-12 education. If the foreign language Regents and eighth grade proficiency were eliminated, a combined $4.4 million could be saved, according to King. Getting rid of several of the science and mathematics exams is another option, since students are tested multiple times in these subjects.

The Education Department is in the midst of a major financial crisis. According to King, the test-development process in New York state costs about $45 million each year. With frequently changing statewide standards in several subjects (the math curriculum was revised twice in one decade), more money will likely be spent on grading, test writing, and proofreading next year. For next year, the Education Department is proposing a general fund of $42.6 million, while the cost of testing is supposed to rise to $45 million. This means that the state Education Department wouldn't be able to create and administer any exams without federal assistance. The cost of testing would also smother the projected costs of curriculum guidelines, district and school analysis, and professional training.

Jamesville-Dewitt High School Principal Paul Gasparini is on the School Administrators Association of New York State's Government Relations and Assessment Advisory committees. He is doubtful that Regents exams will be eliminated. However, Mr. Gasparini believes that the method and structure of the exams will change in the future. The Education Department is exploring online and electronic testing, but Mr. Gasparini says that currently, no schools have the proper infrastructure and resources to make this idea a reality.

Mr. Gasparini believes that the Regents exams provide a "minimum baseline for achievement." He says that Regents exams allow schools to analyze their success in teaching. According to Mr. Gasparini, Regents exams are an "accurate measurement of student achievement" when executed properly. Mr. Gasparini says that the majority of students at J-DHS pass or do well on the Regents exams.

Some students at J-DHS are in favor of eliminating Regents exams. Junior Sibela Osmanovic says that the Regents in foreign language and science could be reformed or cut. Osmanovic doesn't believe that the exams accurately measure students' comprehension or knowledge. "Some people aren't good at taking tests," Osmanovic says. "It's not an effective measurement."

Sophomore Katherine Coughlin believes that the Regents exams could be reformed. Coughlin would like to see less questions and "less pressure" on future exams.

Junior Allison Roth agrees. "People aren't good at studying for tests. You have to learn so much in so little time [to prepare for the tests]," says Roth. She believes that students can't study well during Regents week because there are so many exams to study for. Roth suggests that if exams are kept, they should be given at different times during the year. Roth is also in favor of eliminating some of the topics that students are tested on. She suggests final exams as another option. "I'd rather take finals, because then you can do more fun stuff in class," says Roth.

Sophomore Iosu Bascaran doesn't believe that the Regents exams should be cut. "There has to be a way to test," he says. "In a way, it's necessary." Bascaran believes that Regents exams are a way to "show colleges what you're capable of." He does not think that the exams will be cut.

Spanish teacher Michelle Kuon also emphasizes the importance of Regents exams in foreign languages. Sra. Kuon teaches Spanish 3, a course that ends with the required foreign language Regents. She believes that Regents exams "set a standard" for teachers and students.

Sra. Kuon is unsure of whether Regents will actually be cut, but she believes that the examinations are valuable evaluations. There is only one foreign language Regents, unlike most other subjects. Sra. Kuon wants to see at least one standardized foreign language evaluation available for students in their high school careers. Before cuts are made, Sra. Kuon hopes that the Education Department will "look at all the expenditures."

After recent rumblings of Regents cuts, it's expected that Regents exams will stick around. Officials are trying to avoid getting rid of a core educational standard. Some SUNY schools use Regents scores for college course placement. Regents exams determine which type of high school diploma a student can graduate with. In the eyes of the state, Regents exams trump final exams administered by individual teachers because Regents provide a single standard for every school in New York state. Will they stick around with the state's sinking economy? Only time will tell.