The Long Island Council for the Social Studies Opposes Elimination of Regents Exams

The Long Island Council for the Social Studies is alarmed by the recent discussions to eliminate the New York State Regents exams.  Since their introduction in 1866, New York State’s Regents exams have served as a nationally-recognized standard for quality education.  As a professional organization of committed Social Studies educators we strongly believe the New York State Regents exams should NOT be eliminated for the following reasons:

• The New York State Regents exams ensure that a state approved and vetted curriculum is taught to all students.
• It has insured that all students across New York State receive an equal education.
  
• The New York State Regents exams ensure that students meet at least minimum standard of achievement in all academic courses.
  
• The New York State Regents exams ensure those students who pass the exams are college and career ready.
  
• The New York State Regents exams ensure that students graduate from high school with a basic knowledge of the history of our country and the values that guided its founding as well as the critical thinking skills necessary for students to fully participate in and fulfill their civic responsibilities.
  

The New York State Regents has been the gold standard for education in the United States for over 150 years.  While the United States is in desperate need of a highly educated workforce and global citizens who are critical thinkers, the prospect of eliminating the Regents exams is, in our opinion, a step backward.  Social Studies exams, in particular, are essential for the survival of a democratic society.  The New York State Regents exams are critical to maintain the high standards of excellence in education that has made New York schools, teachers and education the best in the country.  We, the Long Island Council of the Social Studies, believe the New York State Regents exams, 4 + 1, as a criteria for graduation, must be preserved.