Message from the Executive Director
Oct. 4, 2026
Dear Members and Stakeholders,
The State Education Department released a memo last week to BOCES district superintendents, public school superintendents and other school leaders covering the sunsetting of diploma assessment requirements and moving to one diploma. These represent the third and fourth of the "four key transformations" on the path to the implementation of NY Inspires. Both will go into effect for the 2027-28 school year, so that students graduating in January 2028 or after will earn one NYS diploma and not be required to meet separate diploma assessment requirements, such as passing Regents examinations.
"By sunsetting specific assessment diploma requirements, New York is joining the majority of states that know students are capable of demonstrating their learning in deeper and more meaningful ways than one single measure alone," the memo stated. "(NY Inspires) is about making use of the right assessment tools – and more of those tools, not less – to build a more rigorous, relevant, and equitable definition of readiness, in collaboration with New York’s educators and communities."
While Regents examinations have been used as both a graduation requirement and for federal accountability purposes, there is no federal requirement that assessments are used as diploma requirements. SED further stated that the state is not abandoning the use of Regents examination. According to the memo, Regents exams "should only serve as a rigorous assessment of state learning standards, rather than serving simultaneously as graduation requirements and the primary mechanism for federal accountability." The department intends to provide additional guidance about the "appropriate uses of Regents examination results and continues not to require or recommend their use as a component of course grades."
It will also develop high school-level accountability assessments that provide "comparable statewide evidence of student achievement and create opportunities to explore new approaches to measuring progress and achievement." The department will release additional information about the implementation of new high school accountability assessments, amendments to New York’s ESSA Plan, and adjustments to the secondary accountability system during the current school year, according to the memo.
The 2027-2028 school year will mark the first year when students may pursue different learning experiences and pathways based on their interests, strengths, and goals, while working toward the same diploma and the same high expectations for graduation, the memo noted, adding that the current graduation requirements will remain in effect until they are replaced by the competency-based requirements in 2029-30. The department will provide information about state-level seals and endorsements, and guidance for the development of local opportunities to be awarded by districts and schools.
NYSSBA will continue to keep you updated on NY Inspires, sharing information in On Board and this weekly message.
NYSSBA, SED welcome student school board members
Hundreds of ex officio student board members participated in Wednesday’s Welcome to Student School Board Members event both in-person from our office and virtually at BOCES and schools across the state. Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, Senator Shelley Mayer, Regent Adrian Hale, NYSSBA Chief Advocacy Officer Brian Fessler, NYSSBA consultant Jay Worona and former student school board members shared information about school board service and personal experiences with the students. We were happy to collaborate with SED and BOCES to deliver this program.
Following this hour-long session, NYSSBA’s Leadership Development team delivered the Ex Officio Student School Board Training for 30 Capital Region students in partnership with the Capital Region BOCES. This is just one of the many ways NYSSBA helps students prepare for serving on their local school board. You can find more resources on our website including the new online course, Ex Officio Student School Board Member Essentials.
On behalf of the NYSSBA leadership team, I would like to commend all our ex officio student board members for their commitment to serve their school district and their student peers. I have no doubt they will all provide valuable input to their board colleagues and will also personally benefit from this experience in representative democracy.
Voting delegates must be registered by Thursday
If your board has not registered its delegate for the virtual NYSSBA Annual Business Meeting, please do so by the Thursday, Oct. 8, deadline. The meeting will take place on Thursday, Oct. 15, starting at 4 p.m. Each member district can register one board member to serve, and registration can only be done via the link sent to your district clerk. All questions regarding the resolutions process or voting delegate registration can be sent to advocacy@nyssba.org. Our Annual Business Meeting Voting Delegates Guide provides members with a complete listing of the resolutions to be considered by the delegates.
Download the NYSSBA convention app
If you are joining us in Buffalo for the Annual Convention and Education Expo later this month, the best way to ensure that you have all the information you need at your fingertips is to download the NYSSBA Mobile App. The app allows you to view the entire convention schedule, create your own personal schedule and access session handouts.
It’s also your gateway to Braindate, our newest convention feature that will help you facilitate peer-to-peer idea sharing, problem solving and conversations on topics you care about. Braindate is a great way to connect with other school board members for valuable discussions that you’ll bring back to your board table.
We’ve created these instructions to help you download the app. I encourage you to get the app today to start planning your schedule and your Braindates.
Treasury Department releases tax credit rules
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released its much-anticipated proposed regulations for the federal education tax credit, as authorized in last year’s budget reconciliation bill. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has dubbed the program, "America’s first nationwide school choice program." Under this program, states that opt in to participate in the program allow scholarship granting organizations (SGO) to receive contributions from individuals up to $1,700 per taxpayer. These contributions will be 100% tax deductible and include expenses for tuition, fees, academic tutoring, special needs services, books, supplies, and other school equipment.
The proposed regulations prohibit states from imposing operating requirements on SGOs that are more restrictive than what is in the statute, which will limit the ability of states to create or maintain safeguards that prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and ensure academic quality or civil rights protections. Additionally, the regulations prohibit states from directing that funds be used exclusively for public schools and students.
NYSSBA, along with other statewide education partners, has urged the Gov. Kathy Hochul to not opt New York State into this program. In a joint letter sent in December 2025, we stated, "These tax credit voucher programs divert significant funding from public schools and impact student enrollment, leaving fewer resources for student programs and services in public schools."
There is still time to voice your concerns. NYSSBA has created a Take Action, so that you can send a message to the governor calling on her to support public education by not opting New York into the federal tax credit program. The message is crafted so that you can share the link with others within your school community, and I encourage you to do so after you send your response.
Weekly Updates and Reminders
NYSSBA’s Governance Leadership Program builds strong president-superintendent relationships
Board presidents and superintendents, if you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to invest in your working partnership by registering for one of NYSSBA’s fall Governance Leadership Programs. They will be hosted in four locations this fall: Ulster BOCES (10/8), Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES (10/15), Monroe One BOCES (Nov. 6) and Broome-Tioga BOCES (Nov. 9). There will also be a session hosted by Nassau BOCES in the spring. Hear what Dr. Turina Parker, district superintendent for the WSWHE BOCES, had to say about the benefits of the program.
Sign up for the pre-convention events
Don’t miss either our pre-convention events in Buffalo on Oct. 22, including the 30th Annual Pre-Convention School Law Seminar and Pre-Convention Board Officers Academy. Attend this year’s Pre-Convention School Law program to delve into crucial information about today’s straight-from-the-headlines, big picture school law issues affecting our public schools. Learn more about the legal and practical implications, and potential school district options regarding the increasing tension between state and federal enforcement of conflicting transgender student policies; the growing incidences of student grooming and sexual misconduct by staff; and the continuing rise in influence of the exercise of religious rights in public education, among others.
The Pre-Convention Board Officers Academy gives board leaders the opportunity to learn more about leading strategic improvement, designing a charter-driven committee structure and the opportunities and challenges of multi-generational school boards. This session will also feature a special recognition ceremony including professional headshots for board officers.
To find out more about our pre-convention events, visit our convention webpage and look under the Pre-Convention Events tab.
Read the latest national association news from COSSBA
Here’s this week’s COSSBA Education Report. The NSBA Connector was not published this week.
Be well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Robert S. Schneider CPA, CAE
Executive Director
New York State School Boards Association