Amherst Central reviews New York State "Portrait of a Graduate," credit and assessment changes and local preparations

Dr. Shanahan, director of curriculum and instruction for the Amherst Central School District, told the board at its October meeting that New York State has adopted a new Portrait of a Graduate and is moving toward four broad transformations that will change how high-school credits and graduation are defined.

The district presentation laid out the state''s approach: six attributes for graduates that will be scored alongside content standards, a move away from seat-time credit (currently 180 hours per credit) toward proficiency-based credit, and decoupling Regents exams from a mandatory graduation requirement while maintaining assessments for federal reporting under the Every Student Succeeds Act. "The Regents exams aren't going away, it's just they're not required to be coupled for graduation," Dr. Shanahan said.

Why it matters: the role of Regents exams, the credit model and the scoring rubrics will change how students earn diplomas and how districts track progress. The state''s timeline pauses many final decisions until rubrics and guidance are released; the district is emphasizing local planning now so it can implement changes once the state issues details.

Dr. Shanahan described the six attributes (formerly called competencies) approved by the Board of Regents in July 2025 and said the state will later provide rubrics for scoring them. District staff…