Portfolios Replace Exams, Accountability Slides

New York’s Board of Regents voted to eliminate the traditional Regents exit exams and allow students to graduate via projects and portfolios. Early pilot results from 23 schools showed portfolios sometimes failed to demonstrate basic competencies (e.g., multiplication, core writing), raising concerns that subjective assessments will weaken external motivation and transparency. — If more states follow, credential signals and school accountability could erode nationwide, affecting college admissions, labor‑market sorting, and the political salience of education standards.