Private Donors Save January Regents in 2012

Every year thousands of New York high school students take Regents exams in January to fulfill the requirements they need to graduate.

On May 17 this year,  the January Regents exams, due to budget cuts. And in June, the New York State Education Department made it official that that they would no long administer the January exams.

But this week, "five donors and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the [New York City] mayor’s private foundation, each donated $250,000 to cover the cost of administering the exams statewide in January, 2012," Gotham Schools reports.  

Mayor Michael Bloomberg would not identify the other five donors but said they were not government officials, parents of young children, or private companies.

New York State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-92) said today he was appalled by the State's decision to cut funding for these mandatory tests.

"Once again the State is trying to save its money at the expense of the students and school districts," he said. "Tax breaks to millionaires across the board shouldn’t have to leave a few civic minded millionaires to take over the State’s responsibilities. The generosity of Mayor Bloomberg and the five other anonymous donors...is to be commended."

According to Gotham Schools, about 150,000 Regents exams are taken each January in New York City alone. Many students take mid-year exams either to get ahead on credits or to improve upon poor scores from the previous year. 

There were 29 Pearl River High School students scheduled to take the January Regents in 2011.

"We only use the January Regents for kids who are off cycle. They have an opportunity to retake the exam," said Pearl River Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Sue Wheeler. "There are districts where, for instance, the entire junior class takes the Regents in January rather than in June. There are a few occasions that somebody might take it ahead of time (in January) if they double up courses, but that is very rare."

Wheeler said that it is an important option even if relatively few Pearl River students take advantage of it.

"If students are afforded the opportunity to pass Regents at multiple junctures, that is better for them," Wheeler said. "It is an important opportunity for kids who need a particular Regent for graduation."

Wheeler said that so far, the state has not sent the districts any more information on the January 2012 Regents than what has been in the media.

If the state decides not to put money back in the budget for mid-year Regents, it is unclear whether they will continue to be administered beyond next year. 

"It is time for the State to put students’ interests first and restore funding for January Regents exams," Abinanti said. 

Read the full story on GothamSchools.org here. 

Do you think NY State should restore funding for January Regents exams?