New York High School Parent Communication Guide for Teachers

New York's Regents examination system is one of the most distinctive features of the state's education landscape, and it creates a specific communication challenge for teachers. Families who moved to New York from other states, families of recent immigrants, and families who simply never received an explanation of the system may not understand what Regents exams are, why they matter, or that their student's diploma type depends on how they perform on them. Every New York high school teacher has an obligation to explain this clearly.

Explain the Regents Exam System Clearly and Early

New York students must pass five Regents exams to earn a Regents diploma: English, one math (Algebra I at minimum), one science, one social studies, and one additional exam from a list of options. Students who score 65 or above in all five pass. Students who score 85 or above in the English and math exams and in three additional specified exams earn the Regents diploma with Advanced Designation, which is required for admission to some competitive programs. Tell parents which Regents exams your course prepares students for, when the exam is (January or June), and what score is needed. Then tell them what happens if their student does not pass: multiple retake opportunities exist, and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) diploma and local diploma pathways exist for students with specific needs.

Reach New York City's Multilingual Families

New York City's public schools serve students speaking more than 180 home languages. Spanish, Chinese, Bengali, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Urdu, and Russian are among the most common. The NYC Department of Education provides translation services in multiple languages, and teachers who use these resources reach families who otherwise may not receive critical information about Regents exams, graduation requirements, and college access. Even a brief translated summary of your most important newsletter points significantly expands the effective reach of your communication.

Make CUNY Free Tuition Programs Visible

New York City's Excelsior Scholarship and CUNY's College Now program are among the most valuable college access tools available to NYC families. The Excelsior Scholarship provides free tuition at CUNY and SUNY institutions for eligible New York families earning below specified income thresholds. CUNY College Now provides free college courses to NYC high school students during the school year and summer. Many NYC families, particularly those in lower-income communities, do not know these programs exist. Tell them in your newsletter. Tell them the income threshold, how to apply, and when applications open.

Address New York's Geographic Diversity Beyond NYC

New York State is enormously diverse beyond New York City. Suburban districts in Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties serve affluent and highly engaged parent communities with high expectations for rigorous communication. Upstate cities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany serve more economically diverse and often lower-income urban populations. Rural New York, including the Southern Tier, North Country, and the Capital Region, has communities with lower college attendance rates and limited access to college counseling resources. Communication strategies should match the specific community.

Communicate AP and Dual Enrollment Credit Clearly

SUNY and CUNY schools accept many AP exam scores for credit, and CUNY College Now provides actual college credit through dual enrollment. Tell parents which AP scores earn credit at which SUNY and CUNY campuses. Tell them what CUNY College Now offers and how to enroll. For families where the cost and time of a college degree is a concern, knowing that their student can enter college with credits already on their transcript changes the financial calculation significantly.

A Sample New York High School Newsletter Section

Here is what a Regents-aware section looks like:

"This course prepares students for the Regents Examination in English Language Arts, administered in June. Students need a score of 65 or higher to meet the Regents diploma requirement. Students who score 85 or higher in English Regents contribute to qualifying for the Regents diploma with Advanced Designation. We will complete three full Regents practice essays this semester. I will send a specific exam preparation schedule in April."

Connect to New York's History and Culture

New York's history is American history in many ways. The state's role in the founding era, immigration history at Ellis Island, the Harlem Renaissance, the labor movement, the financial system, and contemporary cultural production all provide rich locally relevant content. Teachers who connect their curriculum to New York's specific history and cultural context make the material feel owned by the students and families who live here.

Send Consistently With Daystage

New York's complex assessment system and enormously diverse family population require consistent, accessible, and multilingual-capable communication. Daystage gives New York teachers a fast way to write and send professional newsletters to every family at once. You add your content, your key dates, and any bilingual summaries, and deliver in one click. The consistency is what ensures every family, regardless of language or prior knowledge of the Regents system, receives the information their student needs.