The New York State Education Department (NYSED) announced new high school graduation requirements to include metrics such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), global citizenship and social-emotional learning (SEL).
The list of non-academic metrics which are often promoted by liberal ideologues would replace the current academic tests in traditional areas such as English and math.
The changes were suggested by a so-called “blue ribbon commission” of progressives, convened by state Democrats “to examine and rethink New York’s graduation requirements.”
In the executive summary released in November, the commission frankly admits that creating “equity in New York State public education” is the paramount goal.
“The Department’s vision calls for transformative actions in four areas,” said the release by the NYSED.
First is that students must conform to the state’s picture of what a New York High School graduate must look like, called a “Portrait of a Graduate.”
To fill out that portrait, students must demonstrate that they are “critical thinkers, innovative problem solvers, literate across all content areas, culturally competent, socially-emotionally competent, effective communicators, and global citizens.”
Another of the transformations would “redefine credits” to give students alternative ways of demonstrating competency in areas such DEI, global citizenship and SEL – rather than relying on standardized, academic exams.
The new requirements would also ditch the Regents Exam, a statewide academic measure of knowledge in the areas of math, English, science, U.S. history and government, previously required for graduation.
Finally, the state would do away with diplomas that designate a distinction, such as an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors, in favor of just a regular diploma for all students.
Some critics are calling the new standards a “soft” form of racism.
“This is a continuation of the soft bigotry of low expectations [for] our black and Hispanic students. [The commissioners] don’t think our kids are smart enough to pass the Regents exams. They’re lowering the bar. It is racist to look down on our kids,” Mona Davids of the NYC Parents Union told the New York Post.
A state education policy expert, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Post that the new standards were going in the wrong direction.
“How are we going to monitor success? How are parents going to know if students are learning if we move away from exams? This is going in the exact opposite direction,” the source said.
The 64-member commission was appointed by the NYSED from a pool of 400 applications.
While the commission claims to “include members who reflect the diversity of our state,” in fact, well-over half the members are employed by local school districts or the NYSED itself.
Math experts filled just four slots and English language experts filled seven on the commission, while at least 12 were experts in DEI.
The changes don’t become official unless the Board of Regents accepts them in November. Before that, the proposal will be subject to a public comment period between July and October.
Originally published by The Lion. Republished with permission.
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