HENRIETTA, N.Y. — The New York State Board of Regents is planning to let students earn a diploma through work outside the classroom, like apprenticeships.
A local sheet metal company praises the idea. Kevin Bischoping is the president of Crease HVAC in Henrietta.
The Board of Regents plan would allow students to earn what it calls a competency-based diploma through programs like apprenticeships or lab work. Instead of relying on credits or class time, requirements would depend on the student’s ability to demonstrate what they learned.
Bischoping said students normally have to wait until they graduate to get hands-on experience in trade work. He said this proposal could get more kids involved in trades at a younger age.
Some unions advance workers based on skill level. Bischoping said starting younger means quicker raises.
“Right now, students don’t have a lot of opportunity to explore any or if maybe if they’re lucky, they might explore one trade. This would allow them to start figuring out what they like and get that experience so that they are more valuable to an employer, and they also have more of an idea of what they may want to do for a career,” Bischoping said.
The State Department of Education is still working on defining the exact requirements to earn a competency-based diploma. If the proposal passes, students starting high school in 2029 will be the first to align with the graduation requirements.
The Education Department also plans to no longer require that students take the Regents exam to earn a diploma and draft a statewide universal transcript.