The process to rewrite New York’s graduation standards is creeping along — but a document released Monday may give some indication what the new graduation standards will include.

During Monday’s state Board of Regents meeting, the Region 2 Comprehensive Center presented its report on graduation measures. The report will be used by the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures as its members devise the state’s new set of graduation standards.

“The current one-size-fits-all approach to education is not equitably serving every child in our state,” said Betty Rosa, state education commissioner. “This report helps us to explore the latest research and the experiences of other states and countries so we can see what is working to meet the needs of every student. Stakeholder feedback underscored the importance of equipping students with the skills and competencies necessary to be successful wherever their post-secondary path leads. I thank our partners at WestEd and our Department staff for their work on this critical endeavor.”

Seven states — California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania – were identified to be reviewed because of their proximity and similarity to New York as well as their positive student outcomes and opportunities for flexible pathways to graduation. The group also reviewed three Canadian provinces — Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario — and the requirements in England, Germany and Switzerland. Countries were selected based on a history of high academic performance, with Germany and Switzerland selected specifically because of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities given to high school students and partnerships with business and employers.

The researchers found all of the states surveyed have a variety of diploma types, course requirements and testing requirements and are adding new requirement that include civic engagement and civics, financial literacy and some aspect of work-based learning. The school year and school hours didn’t vary much from 180 days and 990 hours for high school students. Career and technical education are becoming more prominent as federal, state and local officials note workforce gaps widening. Many states begin discussing career options with students by fifth grade while 36 states require some form of career planning such as an individual learning plan, an individual graduation plan or individual career plan.

Parents, teachers and other stakeholders interviewed as part of the public input for the new graduation standards said they wanted to see more performance-based assessments for graduation, more experience and work-based learning opportunities for students and give students an option to choose from among different types of assessments.

“When we talk about what earning a high school diploma means, we must also identify the barriers that may exist and eliminate existing barriers to high-level academic achievement by students,” said Lester Young, Regents chancellor. “Our students are full of potential, and, as educators, it is our job to engage them effectively in fulfilling their potential. The Blue Ribbon Commission will reflect on how best to foster student learning and how they can best demonstrate what they have learned and the skills they have acquired.”