Carol Burris explains here how the New York Board of Regents hoaxed the public into thinking they had agreed to major changes when they actually changed nothing.
She writes:
“The press was led to believe the Regents pulled back the passing scores on the Common Core English Language Arts and math exams for the Class of 2017 from 75 and 80 to a score of 65 on both exams. The State Education Department claims that scores of 75 and 80 indicate “college readiness”—a metric they created.
Here is the reality. They had no intention of raising the scores from 65 to 75/80 in three years. Back in the fall, the Regents made it clear that for graduation purposes, students would still be able to earn a 65 on new standardized tests aligned to the Common Core State Standards in order to graduate……
“King and the Regents know that raising the passing scores will result in a precipitous drop in graduation rates. Based on last year’s results, the graduation rate would drop from 74 percent to 35 percent. If you believe that they had any intention of letting that happen in three years, I can sell you a bridge to nowhere in Alaska.
What the Regents did on Monday was actually set a date for when students would have to meet these “aspirational” scores (75/80). The long-term plan, however, is that the Regents exams, as we know them, will be long gone by 2022, replaced by computer based PARCC tests.
“In short, the Regents are “rolling back” what they never did in the first place. Right now, ninth-grade students, the Class of 2017, are mandated to take the Common Core Algebra Regents. The passing score on this exam is 65.”
Two members of the Regents–both experienced educators–opposed the changes because they wanted the standards to be reviewed by New York teachers, not sent back to the original writers (who have dispersed and no longer exist as a writing committee), and they sought a moratorium on the testing, which the Regents did not agree to.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Right now, ninth-grade students, the Class of 2017, are mandated to take the Common Core Algebra Regents. The passing score on this exam is 65.”
That is a scaled score of 65. It will be interesting to see how they manipulate the raw data with this brand new assessment meant to be significantly more rigorous tha the olde Regents test, knowing full well that they are a dealing with a tryly “high-stakes” exam required for graduation. The still have one major loophole as an “out” – 9th graders can also take the old Regents version of integrated algebra and choose the best score of the two. ELA in grade 11 will be equally interesting to watch.
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NYS Teacher…what has been the pass/fail percentage for the last 5 – 10 years on the “olde” Regents test?
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NY switched to Integrated algebra for 9th graders in June 2008.
A raw score of 30/87 = 65% passing
I believe that the overall passing rate (including re-takes) is around 90% statewide. Keep in mind that this is the one and only Regents level math course required for graduation.
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Just elaborating on NYS Teacher – There are 30 multiple choice and between 6-9 extended response (I forget). If a student gets 15 multiple choice correct and 0 on every extended response it is scaled to a 65
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Yes MC items are 2 points each. So students with an un-scaled, criterion referenced score of 34.4% are scaled into the passing range.
For all you out of state math teachers that are appalled, please understand that this is the living and breathing legacy of Richard Mills former NYSED commissioner. Back in 2005 (?) he ended the two-track diploma system (Regents v. Local) and thought it was a good idea for all students to take the more rigorous course of study. This move resulted in the dumbing down of biology (living environment), algebra, ELA, and global studies and American history. The threshold for passing these five required exams was lowered significantly in order to prevent a statewide drop-out disaster. Thanks Dick!
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In the street I believe such people as the Regents are proving themselves to be are commonly referred to as con artists. Given their recent history, after this contemptuous act, we would do well to address them as such. To their faces if they dare show them in public.
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The only difference is that typical con artists only show contempt for their gulls after the con is successfully concluded; these people show their contempt up front.
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“And be these juggling fiends no more believed / That palter with us in a double sense.” –William Shakespeare, Macbeth
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The Regents didn’t really concede anything relevant. The kids still have to take the assessments. The High School students actually have to take more exams – 2 in ELA and 2 in a Math. The teachers still have to use the CCSS.
So tell me, what has changed?
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They re-defined a “2”
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Oh yes, they redefined the passing grades to a 2, 3, or 4, thus further delineating the assessment as worthless.
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What little credibility they had just disappeared with this vote.
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PARRC tests will cost NYs taxpayers twice as much as old Regents. The current Fellows are working on NYS tests and the future PARRC tests. All from NYS and getting six figure salaries. They have little to no teaching experience
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