Gary Stern, Diana Dombrowski and Helu Wang

Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY NETWORK


After two years of highly uneven pandemic schooling, the New York State Board of Regents made a critical decision last spring to keep many students on track for high school graduation.

The board, which makes statewide education policy, decided that students who earn a failing grade between 50 and 64 on a Regents exam through August 2023 could still earn graduation credit in the subject. To qualify, a student taking a Regents-level course would otherwise need a passing grade, based on assignments and tests. Many educators believe the board made the right move: giving students extra latitude at a turbulent time to show they know course material.

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“Considering the challenges associated with scheduling and the pandemic, not to mention sickness, absentee rates and the general upset of day-to-day experiences, as imperfect as it may be, the opportunity for students to seek an appeal made sense,” White Plains Superintendent Joseph Ricca said.