What about AP Calculus — does the Regents change make it harder to reach?

It could, depending on how schools structure their new math sequences. The state is exploring 'integrated math' — blending algebra, geometry, and statistics across grades 9, 10, and 11 rather than teaching them as separate one-year courses. Supporters say integrated math opens broader STEM pathways. The documented tradeoff, raised by educators in NY and in other states that already use this model, is that students who finish integrated math sometimes arrive in Precalculus with weaker procedural fluency in algebra and trigonometry, which makes AP Calculus AB and BC harder. The simplest hedge for UWS families with college-bound students is to ensure deep mastery of pre-algebra, algebra, and trigonometry outside of school — exactly what SOMATH does.

NYC Education News · Regents Phase-Out · Parent Guide

New York Is Phasing Out Regents Exams: What It Actually Means for UWS Math Families (June 2026)

Q: Are Regents exams really going away in New York?

Yes. Under New York State's current timeline, the graduating class of 2027 is the last that must pass Regents exams in order to graduate. The State Education Department and Board of Regents have committed to a phased rollout of a competency-based diploma system, with full implementation targeted for the class of 2029. As of June 2026, state officials have not yet released the specific list of new graduation requirements, which is causing planning anxiety in schools across the state.

Q: What is competency-based education replacing the Regents?

Competency-based education means students prove mastery of a subject through projects and demonstrated skills rather than by sitting a single multiple-choice test. For algebra, that could look like a student running a hypothetical business — building a business plan, tracking sales growth, computing costs, sale prices, and profit margins, and modeling linear growth — instead of taking the Algebra I Regents. State materials have used a 'design a roller coaster' project as an example for covering curves, speed, and physics-adjacent math. The intent is that the project would touch every required algebra topic — about 11 chapters' worth — that a Regents exam currently tests.

Q: What should I do as an NYC parent today?

Five practical moves: (1) Don't panic — your child's current Regents prep is not wasted; the class of 2027 still graduates under the existing rules. (2) Focus on real mathematical fluency rather than test-prep tricks. Whatever the diploma system, colleges and the SHSAT, SAT, and AP exams will continue to reward students who can think clearly about math. (3) Ask your child's school for their plan in writing. Schools across NY are admittedly in the dark, but it's reasonable to ask the math department what their 2027-2029 transition plan looks like. (4) Strengthen the SAT, AP, and SHSAT pathway since those remain stable benchmarks. (5) Get a written diagnostic of where your child actually is — the best decision you can make is the one informed by data, not by guesses about state policy.

Today's headline: New York's class of 2027 is the last that must pass Regents exams to graduate. The state is moving to a competency-based diploma — and has not yet said what that diploma will require. Here's a calm, NYC-specific breakdown of what changes, what doesn't, and what UWS parents should do this summer. From SOMATH, 226 W 79th Street.

June 24, 2026 · By the SOMATH team · 226 W 79th St, UWS · (646) 668-6151

New York Is Phasing Out Regents Exams: What It Actually Means for UWS Math Families — June 2026, School of Math, 226 W 79th St

What's in this post

The headline, in one paragraph
The actual timeline — and what's not yet decided
What "competency-based" means in plain English
Does this affect SHSAT prep? (No.)
What it means for the SAT and AP exams
Integrated math, AP Calculus, and the college pipeline
Five things UWS parents should do this summer
How SOMATH is adapting
FAQ

The headline, in one paragraph

On June 24, 2026, Chalkbeat reported that under New York State's current timeline, next year's graduating class is the last that must pass Regents exams in order to receive a New York State diploma. The state is moving toward a competency-based diploma system — where students demonstrate mastery through projects and skills, not multiple-choice exams. The specific requirements have not yet been released. Educators across New York are, in the words of one advocate quoted by Chalkbeat, in a "wild west" of trying to plan without rules. For UWS families, the right reaction is not panic. Most of what your child does in math — the SHSAT, the SAT, AP exams, the path to AP Calculus — sits outside the Regents system and continues unchanged. But the news does raise three questions worth thinking carefully about, and we'll go through each.

The actual timeline — and what's not yet decided

Here is what is known as of June 24, 2026:

Class of 2027: Must still pass the required Regents exams to graduate. This is the existing rule and it has not changed.
Classes of 2028 onward: Will graduate under the new competency-based framework. The transition is being rolled out in phases over the coming years and full implementation is targeted for fall 2029.
What is not yet decided: The specific list of competencies, the format of project-based assessments, how they will be graded (pass/fail or 0–100), whether algebra Regents content will still be assessed in some form, and how transcripts will communicate mastery to colleges. State officials have not released this. Schools are, in Chalkbeat's reporting, "in the dark on what's next."

The honest summary: the state has committed to the change but has not committed to the implementation details. That gap is what is creating the planning anxiety you may have noticed in conversations with your child's school's math department.

Why this matters less than it sounds (for most UWS families): Of the math benchmarks that affect college admissions, three of them — the SHSAT (NYC), the SAT (College Board), and AP exams (College Board) — are administered by entities other than New York State, and are not affected by this change. The Regents Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II exams will eventually disappear from your child's transcript, but the math underneath them won't. Selective colleges will continue to ask: can this student do calculus-track math at a high level?

What "competency-based" means in plain English

The competency-based diploma idea has been in the works for two years and is now moving from concept to plan. In the model state officials have described, a student no longer demonstrates that they learned Algebra I by answering 35–40 multiple-choice questions on a single Saturday morning in June. Instead, the student demonstrates mastery through a substantial project that touches the same underlying material. Two examples that state representatives have offered in public discussions:

The business plan project (algebra). The student designs a hypothetical small business, builds a business plan, tracks projected sales growth, computes costs and sale prices, and models profit margins. The math behind this — linear functions, rates of change, systems of equations, percentages — covers most of what the Algebra I curriculum is supposed to teach. State officials describe roughly 11 "chapters" of algebra content that the project would need to demonstrate.
The roller coaster project (geometry & physics). The student designs a roller coaster — covering curves, slope, speed at different heights, and the geometry of ensuring the train both makes the turns and reaches the top of the next hill. This is supposed to absorb Geometry content and some Algebra II / physics overlap.

Other state-piloted programs through BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) have proposed grade-by-grade frameworks where, in every grade K–12, students must complete three "must-do" activities in each named competency — for example, "being an innovator" and "being a global citizen." For elementary students, this can look like a "kindness crew" project; for high school students, a Model UN.

The realistic teacher concerns

Teachers we've spoken to and who have been quoted in the state's public sessions raise three concrete worries about a project-based replacement for the Regents:

Grading consistency. A multiple-choice test has 50 questions, an answer key, and a defensible score. A project does not. How do two teachers grade the same business plan and arrive at the same conclusion about whether the student understands linear functions? The state has not yet released a grading rubric.
Math fluency under pressure. Algebra is partly a body of knowledge and partly a body of skill — solving 30 equations in 90 minutes without panicking. Project-based assessment can demonstrate the knowledge, but it does not, by itself, build the skill. Students still need to be able to execute algebra quickly. The SAT and AP exams will continue to require exactly that.
The "test out" problem. If a student demonstrates competency in Algebra I in February of 8th grade, what do they do for the rest of the year? And if they do nothing math-related until 9th grade Geometry begins in September, will they have lost the procedural fluency they just demonstrated?

Does this affect SHSAT prep? (No.)

We've already had several SOMATH families ask this in the last 48 hours, so we want to be unusually direct:

The SHSAT is unaffected by the Regents phase-out. The SHSAT is the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, administered by the New York City Department of Education to determine entry to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Staten Island Tech, HSAS @ Lehman, HSMSE, Brooklyn Latin, and Queens HS for Sciences. It is a separate, NYC-only exam, not part of the New York State Regents system.

If your child is preparing for the SHSAT in October 2026 or October 2027, the test itself, its scoring, and its content (arithmetic, algebra, ratios and proportions, geometry, and reading) are unchanged. The right prep timeline is unchanged. The recommended path is still: build foundations in 6th grade, structured SHSAT-specific math in 7th, and a full year of test-specific work in 8th. The Regents news is, for SHSAT families, simply not their story.

What it means for the SAT and AP exams

The SAT and AP exams are administered by the College Board — a national, College Board-owned organization — and are not affected by what New York State decides about the Regents. Selective colleges will continue to use SAT scores and AP results to evaluate applicants. Two practical consequences for NYC families:

The SAT and AP exams become a more important signal, not less. Once Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II Regents scores disappear from NY high school transcripts, the externally validated math signals that remain are SAT Math and AP exam scores. A strong AP Calculus AB or BC score (4 or 5) becomes the cleanest way to tell a Cornell or Columbia admissions reader that this student really did learn math, not just complete a project.
SAT Math difficulty has not changed. The College Board's 2024 Digital SAT format remains, with the same math content domains: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry/Trigonometry. Our SAT prep approach for UWS families is unchanged.

Integrated math, AP Calculus, and the college pipeline

The piece of this story that NYC parents should think about most carefully is one Chalkbeat raised in passing today: integrated math is slowly gaining favor.

Integrated math is an alternative way to structure high school math. Instead of one full year each of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, integrated math blends all three (plus some statistics and discrete math) across three years labeled Math 1, Math 2, and Math 3. Supporters argue that this is closer to how math is actually used — algebra and geometry don't sit in separate boxes in the real world — and that integrated math opens broader STEM pathways. Many states (California, Utah, North Carolina) already use it.

The documented tradeoff matters. Students who finish integrated math tracks sometimes arrive in Precalculus and AP Calculus with weaker procedural fluency in two specific areas: factoring, simplifying, and manipulating algebraic expressions (an Algebra II skill), and trigonometry (the unit circle, identities, equations). These are exactly the skills AP Calculus AB and BC depend on. A student who can describe Pythagorean identities but cannot use them quickly under time pressure will struggle on the AP Calculus exam.

As of today (June 24, 2026), New York has not announced that it is switching to integrated math statewide. But the discussion is real, and individual NYC schools — both public and independent — are already piloting it. If your child's school adopts integrated math:

Risk	What to do about it
Thinner algebra fluency entering Precalculus	Supplement with focused algebra practice in 8th, 9th, 10th grade summers — particularly on factoring, rational expressions, exponents, logarithms.
Lighter trigonometry depth	A 6–8 week summer trigonometry module before Precalculus closes most of the gap. The unit circle, six trig functions, identities, and trig equations are the non-negotiable pieces.
Uneven preparation for AP Calculus AB/BC	Take a structured Precalculus class (school or external) the year before AP Calculus. Stewart Precalculus diagnostics are a good measure of whether the student is genuinely ready.
Less obvious transcript signal of math depth	AP Calculus BC and post-AP work (Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra) become the cleanest college admissions signal. Plan that pathway in writing by 9th grade.

Five things UWS parents should do this summer

Don't panic. The class of 2027 still graduates under the current rules. Even families with children in younger grades have 2–5 years before any of this affects their child's actual graduation requirements. The math your child is doing right now is not wasted.
Focus on real mathematical fluency, not test-prep tricks. Whatever the diploma system becomes, the SHSAT, SAT, and AP exams continue to reward students who actually understand and can execute math. Spend the summer on fluency: arithmetic in K–3, fractions and percents in 4–6, pre-algebra and algebra in 6–8.
Ask your child's school for their transition plan in writing. It is reasonable, and helpful to everyone, for parents to ask the math department what the school's 2027–2029 transition plan looks like. Many schools haven't thought about it yet; your asking helps.
Strengthen the College Board pathway. SAT Math and AP exam scores remain stable, externally validated, college-readable signals. A clear plan to reach AP Calculus AB or BC by 11th or 12th grade is more valuable now, not less.
Get a written diagnostic. The best decision you can make this summer is one informed by data on where your child actually is — not by guesses about state policy. Book a free 60-minute evaluation at SOMATH on the UWS; the written diagnostic is yours to keep whether you enroll or not.

How SOMATH is adapting

We've thought carefully about what the Regents phase-out means for our own curriculum on West 79th Street. The honest answer is: very little, by design. SOMATH was not built around the Regents in the first place.

Our courses — Little Newtons, Kid Einsteins, the Young Fermats sequence in Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Geometry & Trigonometry, plus SHSAT Prep, SAT Math, and Precalculus — have always been about building durable mathematical thinking: arithmetic fluency, algebraic reasoning, geometric proof, the unit circle, function transformations. These are the skills that the SHSAT, SAT, AP Calculus, and yes, even a roller-coaster project all ultimately depend on. They do not change because the state has changed its assessment format.

Three things we are doing in response to the announcement:

Adding a project module per course. Starting with the Fall 2026 cohort, each of our courses adds a single substantial project at the end of the semester — a business plan in Algebra I, a coordinate-geometry design challenge in Geometry, a population-model investigation in Algebra II/Precalculus. This is partly to prepare students for a competency-based diploma world, and partly because real projects build genuine understanding regardless of state policy.
Strengthening the algebra-to-calculus bridge. If integrated math spreads in NYC, the area most at risk is algebra-trigonometry fluency entering Precalculus. We're expanding our trigonometry and algebra-review units inside Precalculus and adding a Summer Bridge intensive for rising 10th and 11th graders who are likely to need it.
Keeping the AP Calculus pathway intact. Our 8th-graders who finish Algebra I with us are still on track for AP Calculus AB or BC by 11th or 12th grade. That pathway does not change.

If you'd like a 20-minute call to think through what this means for your child specifically — current grade, current school, math track, college goals — call (646) 668-6151 or book a free 60-minute evaluation. We'll spend the first part talking, look at your child's most recent work, and send you a written diagnostic and a recommended pathway within 48 hours. The diagnostic is free and yours to keep.

FAQ

Are Regents exams really going away in New York?

Yes. Under the state's current timeline, the graduating class of 2027 is the last that must pass Regents exams to receive a diploma. The State Education Department and the Board of Regents have committed to a phased rollout of a competency-based diploma system, with full implementation targeted for the class of 2029. As of June 2026, the specific list of new requirements has not yet been released.

What is competency-based education replacing the Regents?

A model where students prove mastery through projects and demonstrated skills, rather than by sitting a single multiple-choice test. For algebra, that could look like a hypothetical business plan or a roller coaster design project — covering linear growth, profit margins, and the core algebra content that the Regents currently assess. State officials have said projects should touch roughly 11 "chapters" of algebra content.

Does the Regents change affect my child's SHSAT prep?

No. The SHSAT is administered by the New York City Department of Education and is separate from the New York State Regents. The SHSAT timeline, content, and scoring are unchanged.

Will my child still take the SAT and AP exams?

Yes. The SAT and AP exams are administered by the College Board, a national organization with no connection to the New York Regents. Selective colleges continue to use SAT and AP scores to evaluate applicants. If anything, these scores become more important as externally validated math signals on transcripts that no longer include Algebra Regents.

What about AP Calculus — does the change make it harder to reach?

Possibly, depending on how schools structure their new math sequences. The state is exploring integrated math (blending algebra and geometry across grades 9–11). Supporters say it opens broader STEM pathways. The tradeoff, raised by educators in NY and in states that already use the model, is that integrated math students sometimes arrive in Precalculus with weaker procedural fluency in algebra and trigonometry — exactly the skills AP Calculus AB and BC depend on. The hedge for UWS families is to ensure deep mastery of those skills outside of school.

What should I do as an NYC parent today?

Five practical moves: (1) Don't panic — the class of 2027 still graduates under existing rules. (2) Focus on real mathematical fluency, not test-prep tricks. (3) Ask your child's school for their transition plan in writing. (4) Strengthen the SAT, AP, and SHSAT pathway since those benchmarks are stable. (5) Get a written diagnostic of where your child actually is.

SHSAT Prep on the Upper West Side: The Complete 2026 Guide
Should My Child Take Algebra 1 Before High School? An NYC Parent's Guide
SAT Prep on the Upper West Side, 2026
Digital SAT Tutoring NYC 2026: Structure, Dates, Scores
The College Scholarship ROI of Math Enrichment
NYS Regents Math Test Prep & Tutoring NYC (for the class of 2027, which still takes Regents)

Sources

Michael Elsen-Rooney, Chalkbeat New York, "Out with the Regents. In with...?" (June 24, 2026)
Sam Dingman, WAMC, "NY education leaders want to get rid of Regents, pivot towards 'competency-based education'" (June 22, 2026)
YouTube / NYS, "NYS launches competency-based diploma system for 2029 graduation reform" (June 18, 2026)
NYC DOE, "Our Schools, Your Voice: The Chancellor's Engagement Tour Report" (June 23, 2026)

Book a free 60-minute evaluation → See SOMATH membership & pricing

School of Math (SOMATH) is a small-group math school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, at 226 W 79th Street, 1st Floor. We teach grades 1–12, from Little Newtons (grades 1–3) through SHSAT, SAT, and AP Calculus. Reach us at (646) 668-6151 or hello@schoolofmath.us.