NYS U.S History Regents Exam Canceled After Buffalo Shooting

A New York State-wide U.S History Regents exam has been canceled because of potentially traumatizing content in the test in light of a mass shooting in Buffalo. The exam was set to be given on June 1st, but after the New York State Department of Education reviewed Regents exam content and found that this particular test, “has the potential to compound student trauma caused by the recent violence in Buffalo,” the department decided to cancel the exam.

Emily K. DeSantis, Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs stated: “While developed by NYS-certified social studies teachers more than two years ago and field-tested to confirm that the exam’s content is educationally sound, the tragedy in Buffalo has created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment. In the wake of the Buffalo tragedy, it is not appropriate to administer the exam with a question that could compound the grief and hardship faced by our school communities.”

According to Department of Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, “it is not possible” to produce a new test or change the current content this soon before the exam date. Because of this, any student scheduled to take the U.S. History and Government (Framework) Regents exam will receive an exemption for graduation, which means it won’t delay anyone from graduating high school on time with a Regents diploma.

Source: 13 WHAM