Assemblymen Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), Al Graf (R,C,I-Holbrook), Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) and Dean Murray (R,C,I-East Patchogue) have introduced legislation to provide alternative pathways beyond Regents testing to enable students to move on to higher education and employment.

In early March, the Assembly Minority Long Island Delegation invited local parents, educators, school administrators and board members to attend a forum to discuss New York State high school graduation diploma options. Following the interactive event, Assemblymen Ra, Graf, McDonough and Murray introduced legislation to address the major concerns many high school seniors in New York State face leading up to graduation.

“We need to make sure the options for New York students are not limited to one single track,” said Ra, Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Committee on Education. “Our state’s student population is unique, and we should have diploma options that reflect that.

“After talking with many education stakeholders in our community, I believe that regardless of what their next step in life might be, our legislation will help many more high school seniors succeed in getting there.”

The first bill introduced by Ra and co-sponsored by Graf, McDonough and Murray would allow schools to apply for a variance through the State Education Commissioner to use alternative and portfolio-based assessments instead of certain Regents exit exams. A similar option has proven to be successful in 28 New York City high schools that are a part of the “New York Performance Standards Consortium.” The other bill would redefine the career development and occupational studies commencement credential as a diploma, and ensure sufficient resources are dedicated to ensure that students with disabilities can partake in classes necessary to earn local and regents diplomas.

“Providing multiple pathways to success is paramount for the future of our children and our state. A child’s ability to obtain a diploma should not be solely dependent upon passing a handful of tests that ignore the years of hard work and learning they have put in. This legislation helps ensure that all of our students have every opportunity to succeed,” said Murray.

“One of the main problems with New York’s education system is that we use a cookie-cutter approach to teaching when science tells us that students learn in a variety of ways and have innately different strengths and weaknesses. Expanding the scope by which high school students can earn a diploma will undoubtedly produce higher graduation rates and allow students to excel in non-traditional pathways like skilled labor or craftwork. In doing so, students will have more options and a higher likelihood of finding a job. Let’s innovate our education system instead of constricting it,” said McDonough.

“If students pass all of their courses throughout their public education, then they should be able to receive a diploma and graduate,” said Graf. “Denying students their diploma based on passing a number of Regents examinations has devastating effects on their ability to enter the workforce and obtain a job. Instead, schools should have the freedom to develop opportunities and alternatives for students to pass an exit exam, as well as modify any barriers to helping students graduate and achieve success.”