By Dave Bullard
Oswego, NY – The New York State Board of Regents backed away from a plan to save money by eliminating most regents exams. As its two-day meeting ended yesterday, Regents officials said they would study the issue.
The Regents released new numbers on graduation rates across the state.
Nearly 3 out of 4 students who started school in 2005 managed to graduate by the end of the summer 4 years later.
More students are taking 5 or even 6 years to get a high school diploma, and that is raising the overall graduation rate too.
But Regents Chancellor Meryl Tisch said graduation rates remain far too low for minorities, students with disabilities and students from poor backgrounds.
"Overall though, it is clear we are not moving far enough nor fast enough to ensure that all of our children successfully earn a high school diploma. The state wide graduation rate continues to improve, but far too slowly," said Tisch.
Tisch warned that the Regents will close schools that continue to perform poorly. According to Tisch, a system needs to be created to remove teachers who consistently perform poorly.