ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The New York State Education Department (NYSED) continuously reviews recommendations and proposals potentially impacting students. As of mid-September, they're in the middle of a glut of statewide meetings to gather community feedback on graduation changes formulated by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures.
The Blue Ribbon Commission, NYSED, and the Board of Regents say they're working together to improve the high school experience in New York. They're focused on different graduation requirements that could lay a stronger foundation for young New Yorkers. NYSED's vision for those new prerequisites divides into four transformations:
The changes aim to help students navigate whichever path to a high school diploma works best for them while still meeting high standards. In November, NYSED will present a final plan on graduation requirements to the Board of Regents. Until then, current graduation rules stay in place.
You can learn about or respond to the four transformations in person at any of several Ambassador Forums still to come before November. NYSED will also take public input through the ThoughtExchange platform or Zoom.
The Graduation Measures Initiative aimed to keep public schools equitable while providing an education that equips students for success. It supported a Board of Regents commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All told, the Blue Ribbon Commission presented 12 recommendations to guide educators moving forward:
Another proposed initiative for NYSED involves amending regulations about mixed competition and extra-class sports. The Board of Regents is considering whether changing Sections 135.1, 135.4, and 135.5 of the Commissioner of Education's regulations would include more students in New York.
This initiative does not depend on or relate to any graduation requirements.
Girls face barriers when joining contact sports like football and basketball, usually only offered to male students. Some federal regulations block girls from trying out for these teams, and in New York, they have to clear outdated or unclear hurdles that boys don't, like passing a physical fitness test or taking a health exam.
Students, athletic associations, and school medical staff alike suggested clearer, fairer standards. They criticized fitness test requirements that don’t test the physical demands of specific sports, and subjective or inconsistent evaluation panels, according to NYSED. In April—to promote clarity and level the playing field—the Department proposed:
NYSED and the Board of Regents met on September 9 and 10, and were supposed to vote on those changes then. "The Department tabled the mixed competition regulation for the September 2024 Board of Regents meeting," said a spokesperson from the department. "NYSED is reviewing and responding to the hundreds of comments it received and expects additional stakeholder engagement. The Department anticipates bringing the regulation back to the Board during the second semester of the school year."
The New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) may oppose those proposed changes to the Commissioner of Education's regulations. According to the association, the change could damage players in traditional "girl's" sports like field hockey, gymnastics, and volleyball.
A NYSSBA resolution highlights how the proposed change would remove the key phrase "significant adverse effect" from the regulations on mixed competition. They foresee reduced participation from girls, increased risk of injury, and unfair competition.
New York Republicans sent out a fundraising email in September asking for donations to help fight such changes to sports in New York schools, but they used more descriptive language than NYSSBA. Under the subject line, "Stop This Attack on Girls’ Sports," it reads:
"Outrageous news out of Albany. The New York State Board of Regents is considering a policy to let high school boys compete in girls-only sports when there’s no equivalent boys' team—like field hockey and flag football. This misguided proposal has rightfully alarmed parents, athletes, and educators across the state."
The fundraising email said Republicans want to protect kids and communities from a dangerous leftist agenda in New York. Beyond unfairness and safety concerns, the email said that the changes would open school districts up to expensive lawsuits from injured female athletes who get kicked off their team roster.
"This is one of many recent fear-mongering attempts from the Republics targeting queer and trans youth," argued Amanda Babine, executive director of Equality NY. "The goal of this revision would actually help with inclusion. More and more young people are identifying as non-binary and transgender and deserve access to sports and be affirmed in their gender identity and these changes would allow that."
NYSBBA will vote on several resolutions—including the one that opposes changing the mixed sports regulations—on October 10 at 4 p.m.
