New York Regents Exam Canceled in Wake of Buffalo Mass Shooting
A new state Regents exam that was to have been given next month for the first time has been canceled by the New York State Education Department.
State education commissioner Betty Rosa on Tuesday announced that the United State History and Government examination will not be administered on June 1 as had been scheduled.
In her message, Rosa cited the recent mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket that left ten people dead.
Rosa said "content experts" concluded there was content in the new Regents exam "that has the potential to compound student trauma" caused by violence in Buffalo.
The education commissioner wrote "the tragedy in Buffalo has created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment."
Rosa said it is not possible to develop a test with different content or to make changes to the exam in the short time before the scheduled administration date.
The commissioner's statement provided no specific information about the questions that caused concern for those who reviewed the exam.
Rosa said the education department plans to ask the Board of Regents to approve a graduation exemption for students who were scheduled to take the U.S. History and Government exam next month.
Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.
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