Dear SGI Families,
Some of you likely heard the recent media coverage about Portrait of a Graduate, New York Inspires, and Regents exams. I am writing to share updates regarding the future of high school graduation requirements in New York State and what these proposed shifts mean for our students and families.
As part of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Board of Regents’ broader NY Inspires initiative, the state is reimagining how high schools assess student readiness for post-secondary life. At its September meeting, the Board of Regents approved a preliminary framework for these modernizations. While state officials plan to approve formal regulations later this school year, all current graduation requirements remain fully in effect today.
To keep you well-informed, here is an outlook of what lies ahead and what it means for our classrooms right now:
A Single Diploma Pathway
Beginning with the graduating class of 2028, New York State anticipates transitioning to a single high school diploma pathway. Under this new structure, passing a specific sequence of Regents examinations will no longer serve as an independent requirement for earning a high school diploma.
It is vital to emphasize that Regents exams are not going away. They will remain a key benchmark for measuring academic growth and mastery of state learning standards. Moving forward, however, the state plans to integrate broader metrics—giving students multiple meaningful ways to demonstrate the real-world skills, competencies, and knowledge they build throughout their academic careers.
What This Means for Students Today
For the 2026–2027 school year, it is business as usual. Current requirements have not changed:
Academic schedules, course credits, and expectations remain the same.
Regents examinations will continue to be administered as scheduled.
Students should remain focused on daily attendance, coursework, and their active academic plans.
The "Portrait of a Graduate"
This statewide transition centers around New York’s Portrait of a Graduate, a vision designed to equip students with the tools required to thrive in a modern world. This framework emphasizes six core competencies for every student:
Academically Prepared
Critical Thinker
Effective Communicator
Creative Innovator
Global Citizen
Reflective & Future-Focused
We anticipate more information being released as the year progresses. Our approach will remain thoughtful, measured, and centered on student success regardless of the regulatory updates that are finalized by the state later this year, and we will keep you informed and involved every step of the way. Thank you for your ongoing partnership, trust, and dedication to our school district.
Warm regards,
James Bialasik