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← Families · Rules today · 2026-27 exam dates · What may change · Class-year finder · 3 students

Regents exams and graduation in New York

New York is changing how students earn a high school diploma. Some changes are decided, and many are still proposed. This page shows today's rules, what may change, and what it means for your child's class year.

General information as of November 8, 2026. Rules can change. Your school counselor and NYSED are the official word.

Grade 6Grade 9Grade 11Graduate 🎓Rules are changing ⚠check your child's class year
In 10 seconds: today’s rules still apply. The proposed changes depend on the year your child starts grade 9.

The rules today (still in effect)

NYSED says the current graduation requirements stay in effect for all public school students until the Board of Regents approves changes. That includes Regents exams.

Credits: 22 units

44331123.5
  • ELA: 4
  • Social studies: 4
  • Science: 3
  • Math: 3
  • Health: ½
  • Arts: 1
  • World languages: 1
  • PE: 2
  • Electives: 3½

4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + ½ + 1 + 1 + 2 + 3½ = 22 units of credit

Regents diploma

22 credits + 4 Regents exams with 65 or higher (one each in English, math, science and social studies) + 1 “pathway.”

Advanced Designation

22 credits + 7 Regents exams with 65+ (3 math, 2 science, 1 English, 1 social studies) + 1 pathway + a sequence (world languages, 5 units of arts, or 5 units of CTE).

Local diploma

For some students: for example, an appeal for up to 2 exams scored 60-64, or safety-net scores for students with IEPs or 504 plans. Ask the counselor which options fit.

What is the “+1 pathway”?

One extra step, chosen by the student: the NYS Seal of Civic Readiness; another math, science or social studies Regents exam (or approved alternative); an approved English, arts or world languages assessment; the CDOS Commencement Credential; or an approved CTE program with its technical assessment.

Every Regents exam in 2026-27, with dates

These are all the Regents exams on NYSED's schedules for January, June and August 2027. Every one has a free Goal100 course with a 🏛️ Regents practice exam: the real parts and question types, a timer, and model answers. The questions are our own; NYSED's real past exams are linked inside each course.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

ExamJanuary 2027June 2027August 2027Format (3 hours each)Practice on Goal100
English Language ArtsTue Jan 26 · 9:15 a.m.Tue June 15 · 9:15 a.m.Tue Aug 17 · 8:30 a.m.Part 1 reading (multiple choice) · Part 2 argument essay from 4 sources · Part 3 text-analysis responseEnglish 9-12
Algebra IWed Jan 27 · 1:15 p.m.Wed June 16 · 1:15 p.m.Tue Aug 17 · 8:30 a.m.35 questions, 82 credits; graphing calculator requiredAlgebra I
GeometryThu Jan 28 · 1:15 p.m.Tue June 22 · 1:15 p.m.Wed Aug 18 · 12:30 p.m.35 questions, 80 credits; graphing calculator, compass and straightedgeGeometry
Algebra IIFri Jan 29 · 9:15 a.m.Thu June 17 · 1:15 p.m.Tue Aug 17 · 12:30 p.m.36 questions, 82 credits; graphing calculator requiredAlgebra II
Global History and Geography IIThu Jan 28 · 9:15 a.m.Wed June 16 · 9:15 a.m.Tue Aug 17 · 12:30 p.m.28 multiple choice · 2 document question sets · Enduring Issues essay (5 documents)Global History
U.S. History and Government (Framework)Wed Jan 27 · 9:15 a.m.Tue June 22 · 9:15 a.m.Wed Aug 18 · 8:30 a.m.28 multiple choice · 2 short essays · Civic Literacy essayU.S. History
Life Science: BiologyFri Jan 29 · 9:15 a.m.Thu June 17 · 9:15 a.m.Wed Aug 18 · 12:30 p.m.9-11 clusters, 45-55 one-credit questions; no graphing calculatorsBiology
Earth and Space SciencesTue Jan 26 · 1:15 p.m.Tue June 15 · 1:15 p.m.Wed Aug 18 · 8:30 a.m.9-11 clusters, 45-55 one-credit questions; reference tablesEarth and Space
Physical Science: ChemistryTue Jan 26 · 1:15 p.m.Wed June 23 · 9:15 a.m.Wed Aug 18 · 8:30 a.m.9-11 clusters, 45-55 one-credit questions; reference tablesChemistry
Physical Science: PhysicsWed Jan 27 · 1:15 p.m.Thu June 24 · 9:15 a.m.Not offered9-11 clusters, 45-55 one-credit questions; Reference Tables for Physics, 2025 EditionPhysics
Physical Setting/Chemistry (older exam)Tue Jan 26 · 1:15 p.m.Wed June 23 · 9:15 a.m. (last time)Not offeredFor students taught the older courseAsk your teacher
Physical Setting/Physics (older exam)Wed Jan 27 · 1:15 p.m.Thu June 24 · 9:15 a.m. (last time)Not offeredFor students taught the older courseAsk your teacher

What may change: “NY Inspires”

  1. November 2024NYSED presents the NY Inspires plan, with a timeline for the Blue Ribbon Commission's graduation ideas.
  2. July 14, 2025The Board of Regents adopts the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. Decided
  3. September 14, 2026NYSED announced that the Board of Regents authorized it to move forward with one State diploma and to end separate diploma exam requirements, beginning with students graduating in 2028. NYSED says Regents exams will continue. The vote did not make the rules final.
  4. By February 2027 (NYSED)NYSED plans to bring proposed regulation changes to the Board of Regents, to start in the 2027-28 school year. Proposed
  5. Until the Board votes (NYSED)NYSED says today's graduation requirements stay in effect for all students until the Board of Regents approves changes. Decided
  6. November 9, 2026NYSED showed the Board of Regents an updated timeline: the new statewide high school tests now target spring 2030. Until then, Regents exams keep serving as New York's statewide high school tests. The diploma changes kept their dates. Proposed
  7. Fall 2027 (proposed)One New York State high school diploma instead of local, Regents and Advanced Designation diplomas. Seals and endorsements could still recognize high achievement. Proposed
Important: Regents exams are not going away. NYSED says they will still be given, and students who are scheduled to take one (including some 8th and 9th graders) must take it. The proposal changes whether students must pass them to graduate. NYSED's FAQ says none of the proposed changes are final until the Board of Regents approves them.

Also new (adopted by the Board of Regents, March 2026): personal finance lessons are required in grades 5-12 from 2026-27 and in grades K-4 from 2027-28. Climate lessons are required in grades 5-12 from 2027-28 and in grades K-4 from 2028-29. Source: NYSED memo, March 24, 2026 and the NY Inspires Transformation Timeline (checked Nov 13, 2026).

Class-year finder

A “cohort” is the group of students who start grade 9 in the same school year. Pick your child's grade this school year (2026-27).

Based on NYSED's proposed timeline by cohort. It assumes one grade per year. Nothing is sent or saved.

Cohort (starts grade 9 in fall of…)What NYSED's FAQ says
2023 and earlierCurrent requirements. Three diplomas: local, Regents, Regents with Advanced Designation.
2024, 2025, 2026Current credit requirements. Diploma exam requirements proposed to end in fall 2027. Students still take Regents exams.
2027, 2028Proposed: a new requirement to complete a career-connected learning experience (NYSED timeline, Sept. 2026), no separate diploma exam requirement, one NYS diploma with optional seals and endorsements.
2029 and laterProposed: a new system. Students show proficiency in the learning standards and the Portrait of a Graduate. A statewide transcript.

3 students, 3 plans

Example with made-up numbers

Student X · Grade 12 in 2026-27 (cohort 2023)

Rules: current requirements.

Credits earned by end of grade 11: 18.5 Credits needed: 22 − 18.5 = 3.5 this year Regents passed (65+): English 78, Algebra I 70, Life science 67, U.S. History 72 → 4 of 4 ✓ +1 pathway: Geometry Regents 66 ✓

Plan: finish 3.5 credits (for example ELA 12, Government and Economics, PE and one elective). Meet the counselor in the fall and in January to check the list.

Example with made-up numbers

Student Y · Grade 10 in 2026-27 (cohort 2025)

Rules: current credits. Exam requirement proposed to end in fall 2027, but not final.

Steady pace: 22 credits ÷ 4 years = 5.5 credits a year Earned so far: 1 (Algebra I in grade 8) + 5.5 (grade 9) = 6.5 On pace after 2 years: 5.5 × 2 = 11 → needs 4.5 this year to be at 11

Plan: keep taking and preparing for every scheduled Regents exam, since current rules apply until the Board approves a change. Ask the counselor each spring for an update.

Example with made-up numbers

Student Z · Grade 6 in 2026-27 (cohort 2029)

Grade 6 in 2026-27 Grade 7 in 2027-28 Grade 8 in 2028-29 Grade 9 in 2029-30 → cohort 2029

Rules: NYSED proposes a new system for this cohort: showing proficiency in the standards and in the Portrait of a Graduate.

Plan now: strong reading, writing and math habits; projects that show the six Portrait of a Graduate qualities; ask in grade 8 if your child's school offers a high school course (like Algebra I) and its Regents exam.

Questions people ask

Are Regents exams cancelled?

No. NYSED says Regents exams will still be given. The proposal changes whether passing them is required for a diploma.

My child is in middle school. Should we stop preparing for Regents?

No. If your child is scheduled for a Regents exam (some 8th graders are), NYSED says they must take it. Good preparation helps under any rules.

Who decides the final rules?

The New York State Board of Regents. NYSED says none of the proposed changes are final until the Board approves them.

Where can I ask a question?

Your school counselor first. NYSED lists GradMeasures@nysed.gov for the graduation measures work and emscgradreq@nysed.gov for current diploma requirements.

What about students with IEPs?

There are extra options today, like safety nets and the superintendent determination. See our special education family guide.

Official sources

Rules can change. If a link and this page ever disagree, the official page wins.