New York favors high school graduation options

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — New York education leaders on Monday endorsed a plan to give students more flexibility in how they earn their high school diplomas with the goal of improving graduation rates and career readiness.

The Board of Regents agreed that instead of passing five Regents exams to graduate — one each in English, science and math and two in history — students should be able to choose a 4 + 1 option and replace one of the history exams with an exam in their chosen career field, such as science or the arts.