Clymer school board discusses Regents ‘mixed messages’
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CLYMER -- With the school year fully wrapped up now and annual regents tests over with, the Clymer Central School Board of Education took a look at not only the overview of students' scores, but also discussed some mixed messaging that has been received in regards to the tests.
During the board's July meeting, Principal Brianne Fadale provided the overview of the regents scores to the board, where it was noted that for some of the tests there was an amount of students who had been expected to take the test, versus the number that actually did.
"We're having conversations with our teachers, because I guess our expectation is that if it is a regents class you have to take the test," Fadale said. "I guess how this became confusing was back during Covid time if I'm remembering, the state was saying 'alright, you shouldn't count the regents towards their final test and grade because it might make them lose credit for the class.' So they're saying the recommendation is to not count it as the fifth marking period."
Fadale said that is when things started to get grey and teachers became unsure as to whether to count the regents tests towards the final grade or not. Since then, she said there has been a lot of conversations as to if the tests would be counted, and it is a local decision as to what each school will do. Fadale said in conversations with her and Superintendent Beth Olson and teachers, Clymer's expectations are that students need to still be taking the regents, to show they are learning up to the standards. Adding to the confusion is the state's plan to decouple the regents from the diplomas.
"As of next fall, September of 2027 the regents exams will be decoupled from the diploma," Olson said. "Meaning, you don't necessarily need to pass the regents exam in order to graduate. Right now, they have to pass U.S. History, Science, Global, Math and English."
Olson noted there has been some mixed messaging regarding regents exams from a few different areas. Fadale said there will be meetings held with teachers to help fix some of that mixed messaging.
"We all just need to be on the same page," Fadale said. "We can't have some saying this is the expectation and some saying this, no, we all have to be saying the same thing, and that's what we're trying to clear up."
Board members added that parents can and need to be a part of this conversation as well, so everyone is clear on the expectations. Meetings were scheduled for the day after the board meeting with a representative from each department to set criteria of the regents expectations to make it standard across the board, and to discuss the big picture with everyone. Olson said that way they will walk away with a uniform process for everyone.
Bringing out students' competitiveness and keeping them motivated to keep trying for advanced courses was discussed, no matter their future plans. It was also noted that the regents exams are vetted assessments, and that while not everyone is a great test taker there are other conversations to be had if there are better ways for some students to measure their learning and application of classes. With new technology such as AI, Olson said students today are a new type of learner, and schools need to start adapting to this new kind of learner. Fadale said conversations will be held to help guide the school in regards to this for next year and years to come.