What's happening
This bill requires school districts closed during Regents exams due to emergencies to offer make-up exams within thirty days.
Why it matters
Ensures Fairness for Students. By mandating make-up Regents exam opportunities after emergency closures, the bill helps prevent students from being unfairly penalized for circumstances outside their control, such as extreme weather or public safety incidents.
Promotes Consistency Across Districts. The bill standardizes how missed exam situations are handled statewide, reducing disparities where some districts might otherwise deny make-up exams while others offer them.
Clarifies Emergency Definition and Protocols. By specifying what constitutes an "emergency" and assigning responsibility for scheduling make-up exams to the Board of Regents, the bill provides clear, actionable guidance for school administrators and families.
Supports Timely Graduation and Academic Progress. Ensuring students can take missed Regents exams within 30 days helps keep them on track for graduation and advanced coursework, minimizing disruptions to their academic plans.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make-Up Regents Exam Option
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.105
- Referred to education
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.362
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Makeup Regents for Emergencies
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1254
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, LARKIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing students an opportunity to take regents examinations if missed due to school closure
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 208-b to read as follows:
§ 208-b. Alternative regents exam testing days due to school closure. Any school district that is closed due to an emergency during a regents examination period is required to provide any student qualified to take such exam as set forth in 8 NYCRR 8.2 an opportunity to take the exam missed within thirty days from the date of the original examination. The board of regents shall select the date for the regents exams and notify school districts of the make-up date and locations. For purposes of this section, "emergency" shall be defined as a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, or property that causes a school district to close.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04219-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing students an opportunity to take regents examinations if missed due to school closure
Purpose
Relates to providing students an opportunity to take regents examinations if missed due to school closure.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 208-b requiring the State to provide alternative regents exam testing days when schools are closed due to emergency school closure. Any school district that is closed due to an emergency during a regents examination period would be required to provide any student qualified to take such exam on the original test date, the opportunity to retest within thirty days from the date of the original examination. The board of regents shall select the date for the regents exam and notify school districts of the make-up date and locations. For purposes of this section, "emergency" shall be defined as a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life or property that causes a school district to close.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
New York State requires that students pass five Regents exams to graduate from High School: two in Social Studies and one each in Math, Science and English. To ensure that students have multiple opportunities to take the Regents exams, New York offers them three times a year. The tests are usually given in January, June and August, giving students three opportunities to take the exam. The January test serves many purposes including allowing students to graduate midyear, as well as helping students lighten their heavy exam load in June. If a school is going to be closed due to an emergency at the same time that a regents is scheduled to be given the State should ensure that each student is still given three opportunities to take the exam. Failure to allow this opportunity can lead to a higher rate of dropouts, lower averages; while leaving qualified seniors unable to graduate.
Typically, New York State receives a few snow storms each winter. In 2014, some school districts like Eden Central School and Iroquois School District had to cancel classes due to wind chills advisories. Eden Central School District, which canceled classes when some students were scheduled to take Comprehensive English and Living Environment exams, had to close its schools for six consecutive days because of inclement weather. In previous years, school districts were forced to close due to bad weather preventing students from taking their exams and forcing them to wait until June. This lowers the opportunity that students have to pass the exam and increases the anxiety levels for some seniors. Creating make-up days for the regents in the event that an emergency does occur, ensures each student a fair chance at being able to take the Regents exam three times in a year.
Legislative history
S3655/A5623 of 2015-2016; Passed Senate S6730 of 2014; Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
To Be Determined EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.