Passage of NYS Regents exams, an academic staple for more than 150 years, would no longer be required for high school graduation, under a sweeping plan outlined yesterday during a two-hour meeting of the Board of Regents in Albany.

Also up for elimination are Regents diplomas, which thousands of students earn each year by passing at least four exams and related courses. John Hildebrand reports on Newsday.com that supporters describe the plan as an effort to meet student needs in the 21st century; opponents, as a downgrade of standards. To replace traditional exam requirements, students under the plan would be allowed other options for demonstrating knowledge and skills — for example, completion of year-end class projects or performance of public service. High school diplomas would continue to be issued, but there would be only one such credential, rather than the Regents-level and “local” diplomas now available. The status of Regents exams has been discussed and debated by Regents before, most notably at a Nov. 13 meeting featuring recommendations from an advisory panel. Monday's report by state education officials was notable for its explicit description of what lies ahead, including the proposed “sunset” of exam requirements.

State education officials who launched the movement several years ago, have contended the shift will allow greater numbers of students to quality for graduation. On Monday, Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa referred to the plan as a “bold vision,” while acknowledging that much work by state and local school authorities remains to be done.

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New York teenagers will no longer need to pass Regents exams in order to receive their high school diploma under a new plan unveiled by the state Education Department yesterday. Allie Griffin reports in THE NY POST that the education department plans to scrap the requirement that students need to pass five Regent exams to graduate high school — but will continue to administer the tests as an option for students to “demonstrate their proficiency in meeting the State’s learning standards.”

The department presented its proposal at Monday’s Board of Regents meeting based on recommendations from a special commission of students, parents, educators, researchers and community leaders.

The “NYS Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures” was formed in 2019 as part of the Board of Regents and Education Department’s initiative to reimagine “what a New York State diploma should signify.

NYS Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and her department associates have added that students will continue to take mandated exams in three subjects — English, algebra and a science — because these are required by federal law. While students would be required to take these exams, they wouldn't be required to pass them to graduate. However, that law does not require testing in history and government — a fact that stirs deep concerns among social studies educators on Long Island.

Officials expect to hold a series of public forums, then present a more detailed plan to Regents in November. There's no date for when this could be implemented.

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A blood emergency exists in our region, according to New York Blood Center, which cites “a significant drop in blood donations preceding and following Memorial Day weekend.” Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that donations have not been sufficient to meet hospital demand, New York Blood Center said last week announcing the blood emergency. This places a strain on the region’s blood supply heading into the summer months, when demand for blood typically rises due to a spike in traumatic injuries, the blood center said. The region currently only has a two-day blood supply of types O- and B-, well below the optimal level of five to seven days, according to the blood center. Platelets and all other blood types are also in short supply, the organization said. The Riverhead Community Blood Drive will take place Wednesday…that’s tomorrow from 1 to 7 p.m. at Riverhead Fire Department Headquarters, 540 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead. Donors are asked to make an appointment by either calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting www.nybc.org.

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The New York State Assembly failed to pass the NY HEAT Act, which climate activists have been pushing to help ween the state from natural gas to renewable energy sources, before the end of the legislative session this past Friday, but several other environmental initiatives made it through the legislature and now await Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature. Beth Young in EAST END BEACON reports that key among those initiatives is the Horseshoe Crab Protections Act, which was passed by both the state Assembly and Senate Friday evening.

The legislation bans the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes, but does allow takings for scientific and educational purposes, which will be regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation if signed by Governor Hochul.

“This is a terrific victory for a threatened species,” said David Ansel, vice president of water protection for Save the Sound. “Horseshoe crabs have been virtually unchanged for 450 million years and survived five mass extinctions, but humans have brought them to the brink in just a few hundred years. It’s past time to stop their overfishing. Connecticut had already enacted legislation to protect horseshoe crabs, but its effectiveness was limited without bi-state protections. Now that New York has followed suit, all of Long Island Sound can be a safe habitat for this vulnerable species.”

The NY HEAT Act, already passed by the State Senate earlier this year, would have further regulated the natural gas industry and supported the decarbonization of buildings, while capping energy bills at six percent of household income for low and moderate income New York ratepayers. It would not ban the use of gas or require existing gas customers to transition to clean fuels. East End Assemblyman Fred Thiele was one of its sponsors in the Assembly. In addition to not passing the bill, the Assembly also blocked its inclusion in the state’s 2025 budget.

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New York, under a new state plan, would drop its requirement that students pass traditional Regents exams to graduate from high school. As an alternative, students could demonstrate skills through completion of research projects, public service and other achievement. Supporters say the plan will help more students graduate; opponents counter by calling this a slip in standards. John Hildebrand reports on Newsday.com that NYS Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and her department associates point out that students will continue to take mandated exams in three subjects — English, algebra and a science — because these are required by federal law. While students would be required to take these exams, they wouldn't be required to pass them to graduate. However, that law does not require testing in history and government — a fact that stirs deep concerns among social studies educators on Long Island.

“I'm so flabbergasted, it's hard to find the words,” said Gloria Sesso, president of Long Island Council for the Social Studies, which represents about 1,100 school supervisors and teachers in the region.

“It seems they're betraying their commitment to make sure students are knowledgeable of the history of their country,” Sesso added, when told of the education department's latest plan. “And we can't be sure students know it, unless we have the exam results to show it.”

Officials expect to hold a series of public forums, then present a more detailed plan to Regents in November. There's no date for when this could be implemented.

The plan already has won tentative endorsements from state-level school groups including unionized teachers, school-board representatives and superintendents.

Robert Lowry, deputy director of advocacy, research and communication for the New York State Council of School Superintendents, described Monday's report as “the next step toward translating that vision into actual specific changes.” He added his group would now canvass members to see if the state's recommendations “match their hopes and expectations.”

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Walking along Main Street in Bridgehampton on a sun-splashed day under blue skies, bright flowers and red geraniums burst from flower boxes, creating a welcoming scene that might well be depicted lovingly in a watercolor canvas of vibrant small-town life. Lisa Finn reports on Patch.com that the flower boxes beautify Main Street, and now, the Bridgehampton Village Improvement Society, which plants the geraniums every year, has designed a bright new logo in red and green, featuring a floral array.

The logo, which features the BVIS logo, name and website, was designed to showcase those flower boxes that line Bridgehampton's Main Street.

The Bridgehampton Village Improvement Society is dedicated to fostering the beauty and vitality of Bridgehampton, according to the group's website. "As a non-profit volunteer organization, we commit ourselves to the beautification of our community through various initiatives including installation of geranium boxes, lighting of Christmas trees and a Menorah along Main Street for the holiday season, and diligent cleanup of our surroundings."

So far, BVIS said, the new stickers have garnered a very positive response. "We are in the process of ordering stickers, with the logo design, that people can put on a car window."

Added BVIS: "Together, as committed volunteers, we aspire to inspire positive change while retaining the charm and legacy for future generations in Bridgehampton."

Volunteers are needed, to "help preserve Bridgehampton as a thriving and visually appealing haven for all to enjoy," they said. To donate or to volunteer visit bridgehamptonvillageimprovement.org

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The head of the MTA yesterday said the transit agency is “not giving up on congestion pricing,” even as it takes steps to “shrink” its capital budget now that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has indefinitely shelved the tolling plan. Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, making his first public remarks since Hochul’s decision last Wednesday to nix congestion pricing, took a diplomatic tone, saying while the last week has been “incredibly difficult,” Hochul still deserves “kudos” for her past support for the transit system.

Congestion pricing, which would have charged most vehicles $15 for driving below 60th Street in Manhattan, was set to take effect on June 30. But Hochul on June 5th called for an indefinite “pause” on the plan, citing affordability concerns among New Yorkers.

While coming short of criticizing her decision, Lieber made it clear it would have a significant impact on the MTA, and the $15 billion it was expecting to raise from congestion pricing revenue to fund several infrastructure investments.

Without the money, the MTA is now working to “reprioritize, re-sequence and shrink” its current five-year, $55 billion capital program, with an emphasis on maintaining, rather than expanding, the transit system.

“This is the basic stuff to make sure the system doesn’t fall apart,” Lieber said, adding the MTA will give special priority to station accessibility projects and to trying to keep federal funding that may be at risk without matching state dollars.

Speaking in the Bronx Monday morning, Governor Hochul downplayed the significance of her decision on the MTA’s finances.

“To assume that the only funding source had to be congestion pricing shows a lack of imagination,” Hochul said, adding that she remains committed to keeping the MTA’s Capital Program on track using “alternative funding.”

Hochul has not identified where the money would come from, and failed in efforts to get the State Legislature to approve a payroll tax increase during the final hours of its session Friday evening.