New York is moving away from the long-standing Regents exam system, with the State Board of Regents voting to remove the exams as a mandatory condition for earning a high school diploma.

The change is set to take effect with the Class of 2028. Under the new approach, students would no longer have to pass a series of state Regents tests in order to graduate.

Instead, New York plans to adopt a single diploma pathway that gives individual school districts greater flexibility in determining how students demonstrate their knowledge. Schools could rely on classroom assessments, regular assignments, teacher evaluations, projects and other forms of academic work rather than a single high-stakes examination.

State education officials say the overhaul is intended to make graduation requirements more equitable and reduce the emphasis on “teaching to the test.” They also pointed to differences between public and private education, noting that students in some private-school settings have historically not been subject to the same Regents requirements.

The change does not mean New York is eliminating standardized testing altogether. Federal education requirements will continue to require periodic assessments in areas including math, English and science. However, those exams will primarily be used to measure how school systems are performing rather than determine whether an individual student can receive a diploma.

The Board of Regents is expected to consider the final regulatory changes in June 2027, paving the way for the new graduation system to be implemented.