Many Regents exams to be cut by next year

Written by Matt Dalen
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 23:00

Bolting right out of the gate on some of the major changes in its long-range plan, the Katonah-Lewisboro school board decided on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to eliminate two Regents exams — physics, and algebra and trigonometry — immediately, with six more to be cut by the end of the following year. The exams are to be replaced with assessments that are designed to better prepare students for the work they will be doing in college, according to John Jay High School Principal Ellen Doherty. This move will leave the district with only those five Regents exams that are mandated by the state.

The first two Regents exams to be eliminated would be physics and algebra and trigonometry. Physics teacher Frank Noschese spoke at the board meeting to explain what he would use instead of the multiple-choice state exam.

“[This is] a way to teach physics through experiments,” Mr. Noschese said. “The kids devise their own experiments, they take their data, and then they have to present their data to the class. As a class, we decide what the laws of physics are based on the data.”

Mr. Noschese said that he had already re-engineered his class to grade, not on student snapshots of knowledge such as quizzes, but on how well the students understand the material by the end of the year. Thus, students who are slower at understanding the concepts can still perform well if they can demonstrate mastery of them at the end of the year.

The final exam, Mr. Noschese said, would take the form of a project. Students would be able to choose between different projects, such as designing and building a device that demonstrates knowledge of physics, or creating a “Mythbusters”-like experiment that demonstrates physics knowledge.

“It’s astounding to have in my hands the blueprints for what students have been longing for,” said student board member Michael Mitchell. “I think we need to move immediately to how can we replicate this. By the time my sister graduates, I want to see this across the board.”

Ms. Doherty said that most teachers were not as prepared as Mr. Noschese to institute new assessments. She said that the algebra and trigonometry curriculum was also to receive a new final assessment, because that class is in the process of being revamped with a consultant anyway, so it made sense to make the move this year rather than next year.

“I think the dumbing down of America and education has hurt the Regents’ quality,” said board member Dr. Peter Treyz. “If this is going to get us in the upward swing, it’s the way to go.”

The proposal would eliminate Regents exams in French, Latin, Spanish, biology, and chemistry next year, leaving in place state-required exams in global history, U.S. history, algebra, English and earth science.