Keeping U.S. History in High School Graduation Requirements

Now is the time for people interested in the teaching of American history in New York’s schools to let their views be known.

The Regents and State Education Department have been working for several years on overhauling graduation requirements. At a meeting this past November, the Regents voted to phase out Regents examinations as a graduation requirement.

They are working on new ways to assess learning achievement.

The Regents actions are based on an advisory committee report to the Regents over a year ago, November 2023. But that report does not indicate what courses would actually be required for graduation in New York State. Will American history remain as a graduation requirement, as it is now?

The 2023 report’s recommendation no. 2 says that, under the projected new system, “diploma credits must include” six elements — civic responsibility (ethics); cultural competence; financial literacy education, including systems, personal finance, and the social-historical context; fine and performing arts; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); and writing, including skills for real-world scenarios.

History, English, social studies, civic education (which is much broader than ethics), and all the social sciences and humanities are all left off the list of requirements.

The 2023 report offers a “Portrait of a Graduate” — “what we want all students to be able to do upon graduation and be successful in our rapidly-changing world.”

Seven traits are listed. Three are straightforward – Critical Thinker, Effective Communicator, and Innovative Problem Solver.

But the other four are not — Global Citizen, Social-Emotional Competence, Cultural Competence, and Literate Across Content Areas.

Conspicuously absent are: knowledgeable about American history, world history, great literature, and citizens’ rights and responsibilities.

Making it optional rather than required would mean many students skip it.

The Education Department has created a Graduation Measures website which features the work of the 2023 commission, and its Report on Graduation Measures.

The Department is currently collecting feedback through ThoughtExchange. You can also subscribe to have updates emailed to you.

Anyone interested can also contact the Regent from their district directly.

Photo of State Education Building by Matt Wade Photography (Wikimedia User UpstateNYer).