NYSED: January 2022 Regents Exams canceled due to COVID

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The New York State Education Department Tuesday announced the Regents Exams planned for January have been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.

The cancellation applies to every scheduled exam in the month, though no final decisions have been made for the planned June and August 2022 exams.

This is not the first time the exams were canceled.

Due to the move, NYSED said it will ask the state’s Board of Regents to approve a set of adjustments to the requirements your child needs in order to earn a high school diploma. The changes would apply to all students who are completing a secondary-level course of study or make-up program in January and are scheduled to participate in one or more of the exams.

NYSED Release on Regents Exam by News10NBC on Scribd

Additionally, NYSED says its hoping to get emergency exemptions approved by the board. These exemptions would apply to the following students:

• Enrolled in a course that would ordinarily culminate with a January 2022 Regents Examination and earn credit for such a course of study.
• Complete a make-up program to earn course credit; or
• Be prepared to take a required Regents Examination to graduate at the end of the first semester.

In a statement, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) said

“Given the unevenness of this school year with the pandemic still ongoing and the acute social-emotional needs of our students, canceling the January Regents exams is the right choice. We thank Commissioner Rosa, Chancellor Young, and the Board of Regents for recognizing that our educators are still assessing their students, preparing them to receive their diplomas, and setting them up for success after graduation without this round of state exams.”

The department says it is building an FAQ page and will issue more guidance come January.