New York Granted Federal Waiver to Eliminate Double-Testing in Math

Good afternoon.

This morning, the State Education Department released the information below, announcing the US Department of Education’s approval of New York State’s waiver request to end the “double-testing” of seventh and eighth grade students who take Regents Algebra 1 or Regents Geometry examinations. You will recall that NYSED initially intended to frame the waiver request exclusively around grade 8 students taking the Regents Algebra 1 examination. However, based on public comment, NYSED modified the waiver request to include grade 7 students who take the Algebra 1 Regents and to grade 8 students who take the Geometry Regents.

Seventh and eighth grade students who take a Regents exam in mathematics will be counted as “participants” when the department determines whether a school or district has met the 95 percent participation requirement in mathematics. Other considerations related to school/district accountability are included in the Request for Waiver From Double Testing section, that may be accessed through the links embedded in the full news release (click here to download the full news release from SED).

In order to implement  the waiver, SED must now prepare an action item to be considered and approved by the Board of Regents in order to amend the commissioner’s regulations. Given the strong interest expressed by the board, and most especially by Chancellor Tisch, we expect that such an item will receive quick approval.

We hope that you all had a happy holiday season and we hope that you will find this information helpful. We will continue to keep you updated.

Jim Viola, director of government relations