The Aporia · New York official says she's 'thrilled' high school exams are scrapped because 'it is the opposite of dumbing kids down'

New York official says she's 'thrilled' high school exams are scrapped because 'it is the opposite of dumbing kids down'

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Heller, V. (2026, September 16). New York official says she's 'thrilled' high school exams are scrapped because 'it is the opposite of dumbing kids down'. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16136117/New-York-official-says-shes-thrilled-high-school-exams-scrapped-opposite-dumbing-kids-down.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

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Quick Summary

Felicia Thomas-Williams, a member of the New York Board of Regents and former school principal, expressed her enthusiasm over the decision to no longer require high school students to pass Regents exams starting from 2028. She argued that this move is not about lowering educational standards but rather ensuring that assessments are fair and appropriate for all students. Chancellor Lester Young also supported the change, emphasizing its potential to create a more equitable education system. However, some board members like Weinman Shorenstein expressed concerns over how local communities will assess student performance without standardized exams.

Written by AI on 2026-09-16, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The New York State Board of Regents has decided to make high-stakes Regents exams optional for high school graduation starting from 2028, a move that some education officials like Commissioner Betty Rosa view as positive. Rosa argues it will better prepare students for college and careers by allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge in different ways. However, critics such as Post readers Frank Brady and Harold Fishman argue this change undermines the quality of New York’s educational standards and could lead to a decline in real learning outcomes while increasing graduation rates artificially. The decision is part of broader reforms moving towards a competency-based system that aims to be more equitable but also faces skepticism over its potential impact on academic rigor.

Written for “NY Scraps High School Exams” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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“The articles discuss different aspects of the decision to scrap high school exams in New York; Article A reports on a schools official's reaction, while Article B provides commentary and criticism from an academic discussion.”

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0 of 22 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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withheld

no quote in the article backed the model's score

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68/100

Daily Mail's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Victor Heller

81 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 81 articles by Victor Heller →

Claims (22 extracted, 0 hedged)

A New York schools official has said she is 'thrilled' that longstanding exams will no longer be required. asserted

exams → say → ?

For decades, passing Regents exams has been a requirement for New York students to graduate high school. asserted

students → pass → school

The exam tests basic knowledge in math, English, science and global studies. asserted

exam → test → math

However the Board of Regents - responsible for education in the state - has announced the exams will no longer be necessary in order for students to graduate from 2028. asserted

students → announce → 2028

Felicia Thomas-Williams, 58, a former school principal who was elected as Long Island's representative on the board, said she supported the move. asserted

she → elect → move

'All New York State students will now be able to demonstrate their competency, which I know is the expectation, in a manner that showcases their strength,' she said. asserted

she → demonstrate → strength

Thomas-Williams also argued the move was 'the opposite' of 'dumbing down' education. asserted

move → argue → education

'Have you seen the cartoon where you have a fish climb a tree?' she said. asserted

she → see → tree

'You don't assess a fish on climbing tree because fish can't climb tree. asserted

fish → assess → tree

I am so thrilled about this, I just want to put it out there.' asserted

I → want → it

New York Regent member Felicia Thomas-Williams, 58, said she was 'thrilled' about the Regents exam being scrapped Thomas-Williams added a comparison saying that having the Regents exam as a requirement for high school graduation would be like asking 'fish to climb a tree' Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young also praised the move. asserted

Young → say → move

'Every student in New York deserves access to rich, high‑quality learning experiences and meaningful opportunities to demonstrate what they know and can do,' he said. asserted

he → deserve → what

'Advancing this work moves us closer to a more equitable system, one that upholds high expectations for all while ensuring that a student's zip code, background or circumstance never determines their opportunities for success.' asserted

code → advance → success

Going forward, the New York Department of Education is expected to develop alternative graduation requirements. asserted

Department → go → requirements

Betty Rosa, the state's education commissioner, told NBC4: 'By maintaining rigorous standards while giving students more opportunities to apply their knowledge, think critically, solve problems, and demonstrate what they know and can do, we are better preparing them for college, careers, civic life, and the future.' However, not all colleagues shared their enthusiasm. asserted

colleagues → tell → enthusiasm

Board member Weinman Shorenstein said he was concerned about the decision. asserted

he → say → decision

'I'm unsure how you intend to determine comparability across local communities with different assessments,' he said. asserted

he → intend → assessments

A video of Thomas-Williams' speech circulating on X evoked mixed reactions from viewers. asserted

video → circulate → viewers

'What is it with politicians and using the clumsiest metaphors possible,' one user commented. asserted

user → use → metaphors

Another wrote: 'Fish can't climb trees - and New York children are biologically incapable of reading, math, science and social studies? asserted

New York official says she's 'thrilled' high school exams are scrapped because 'it is the opposite of dumbing kids down'

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Claims (22 extracted, 0 hedged)