OCM BOCES District Superintendent: 4+1 Pathway adoption is good news

The New York State Education Department and Board of Regents have heard from the community about the need to offer high school students different paths that give them options regarding their own learning and development and that better prepare them for the demands of life and work in today’s world. In recognition of the fact that “one size does not fit all,” we applaud the NYS Board of Regents’ recent action in adopting a “4+1 Pathway” model for students wishing to earn a Regents diploma. The “4” refers to a requirement of passing four Regents exams, while the “1” refers to options that students have for the fifth test.

The 4+1 model allows for different ways to meet the requirement of passing five Regents exams to graduate. The four required Regents examinations are English language arts, mathematics, science, and either US history or global history and geography.

For the fifth exam requirement, students will have the following Pathway options: Humanities: (one additional social studies Regents examination or approved alternative); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM): one additional Regents examination in a different course in mathematics, science or an approved alternative); Languages Other Than English (LOTE): a pathway assessment that could include a biliteracy; Career and Technical Education (CTE): an approved CTE pathway assessment following successful completion of a CTE program-approved pursuant, and; Arts: an approved arts assessment.

Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES has been working diligently with Central New York school districts in providing the leadership to facilitate and implement this much-needed change to our educational model. For all of our students in Central New York, we have a Regional Vision of Readiness that is founded on an uncompromising and relentless commitment to preparing them for college, career and citizenship – in other words, preparing our young adults for their future. At the heart of this vision are three commitments: providing instruction that engages, a culture that empowers and technology that enables. Central New York school districts are working together to increase the extent to which these three commitments characterize our schools. We are creating new regional schools, such as Innovation Tech High School in Liverpool, in which integrated project-based learning (PBL) courses, collaboration and technology are key in teaching and learning. PBL will be a significant component of all BOCES programs, as will increased internships, local business-embedded programs and the use of technology in ways that more closely mirror the world our students will enter after graduation. It is important to note that instruction will continue to be based on NYS Learning Standards and that students will continue to take all state-required exams (which are now changing as well).


This is good news for the students of New York. The provision of these choices is recognition of the fact that our current system of education in New York needs changing. This is a good first step. In the future, Central New York schools and districts will continue to advance a version of college and career readiness that is focused on the future rather than the past.

J. Francis Manning, district superintendent
Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES