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The Blue Ribbon Commission

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures

NY Inspires exists because of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures — and the recommendations the Commission produced are the direct foundation for the plan. Here's how the two connect, and how a member of our own L.I. RBERN team was part of the process.

A Voice From Our Team

Dr. Jordan Gonzalez, Lead Resource Specialist here at Long Island RBERN, served as one of the 68 members of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. That means our team had a direct hand in shaping the recommendations behind NY Inspires, and a firsthand understanding of the thinking that drove them.

 

How the Commission's Recommendations Led to NY Inspires

  • In February 2019, then-Chancellor Betty Rosa called for rethinking New York's graduation requirements, arguing the current system wasn't working for every student.
  • The Board of Regents launched the 68-member Blue Ribbon Commission in September 2022, co-chaired by Vice Chancellor Josephine Victoria Finn and Regent Judith Chin, after two prior years of stakeholder input and research (2019–2022).
  • Over 12 months (October 2022–September 2023), the Commission met monthly, gathering more than 234,000 public comments through the ThoughtExchange platform and holding dedicated student and parent advisory meetings.
  • The Commission finalized its recommendations at a three-day in-person convening in Albany (July 25–27, 2023) and presented its final report — four priority areas and 12 formal recommendations — to the Board of Regents on November 13, 2023.
  • One year later, on November 4, 2024, NYSED presented NY Inspires, translating the Commission's 12 recommendations directly into the plan's four transformations and a phased, multi-year implementation timeline.

 

History: From the Blue Ribbon Commission to NY Inspires

NY Inspires didn't happen overnight — it's the product of a multi-year, statewide process that began in 2019. Here's how we got here:

 

Feb 2019  Then-Chancellor Betty Rosa calls for rethinking the high school diploma, arguing the current system was leaving too many students behind.

July 2019  The Board of Regents announces a comprehensive, inclusive review of graduation requirements.

2019–2022  Phase I: Information gathering. NYSED holds 19 regional stakeholder meetings across the state and commissions a literature review and policy scan from the Region 2 Comprehensive Center.

Sept 2022  The Board of Regents formally launches the 68-member Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, co-chaired by Vice Chancellor Josephine Victoria Finn and Regent Judith Chin.

Oct 2022–Sept 2023  Phase II: The Commission meets monthly, gathering over 234,000 public comments through ThoughtExchange and holding 12 student/parent advisory meetings.

July 25–27, 2023  A three-day in-person convening in Albany where Commission members draft the final recommendations.

Nov 13, 2023  The Commission presents its final report and 12 recommendations to the Board of Regents.

Nov 4, 2024  NYSED presents NY Inspires: A Plan to Transform Education in New York State, with a phased implementation timeline for the four transformations.

July 2025  The Board of Regents formally adopts the New York State Portrait of a Graduate.

2025–26 onward  Fifth graders this year are the first cohort expected to follow the full NY Inspires implementation as it phases in through their high school years.

2029–30  Full statewide alignment expected for students entering grade 9.

 

The Report: Four Priority Areas

Guided by research, stakeholder feedback, and their own expertise, the Commission organized its work around four priority areas:

  • Consideration of multiple pathways leading to one diploma
  • Review of assessment flexibility
  • Understanding of meaningful life-ready credentials
  • Culturally responsive curriculum, instruction, and assessment

  

 

The Blue Ribbon Commission's 12 Recommendations

 These are the recommendations that became the foundation for NY Inspires, presented to the Board of Regents in November 2023:

  • Replace the three diploma types with one diploma, with the option to add seals and endorsements.

  • Include civic responsibility (ethics), cultural competence, financial literacy, fine and performing arts, STEM, and real-world writing skills in diploma credit requirements.

  • Ensure access to career and technical education (CTE), including internships and work-based learning, for all students statewide.

  • Organize credit requirements into larger, more flexible categories (e.g., a combined “STEM” category for math and science).

  • Reduce and/or modify diploma assessment requirements to allow more assessment options.

  • Create state-developed rubrics for any performance-based assessments used to satisfy diploma requirements.

  • Create tailored graduation requirements for specific student groups (e.g., newcomer or refugee students).

  • Provide exemptions from assessment requirements for students with significant cognitive disabilities or major extenuating circumstances.

  • Allow the discretion to confer high school degrees posthumously.

  • Require all NYS teacher preparation programs to include instruction in culturally responsive-sustaining education (CR-SE).

  • Require professional development plans to include CR-SE practices and pedagogy.

  • Review and revise New York State's learning standards.

 

 

    L.I. RBERN Resources

       - NYSED NY Inspires and Portrait of a Graduate Resources

       - NY Inspires Overview Slides (forthcoming)

       - NY Inspires Quick Reference Sheet (forthcoming)

       - Portrait of a Graduate: What It Means for MLs/ELLs (forthcoming)

  

Official State & BOCES Resources

NY Inspires: Core Webpages (NYSED)

New York State Portrait of a Graduate (NYSED)

Blue Ribbon Commission & Policy Background (NYSED)

ESBOCES & Regional Resources

Questions?

Reach out to your LI RBERN team for support translating NY Inspires guidance into practice for multilingual learners in your district.