New Yorkers - I need your help!!!

[wdw4us2]

I have some questions regarding high school graduation requirements and obtaining a driver's license in the State of New York.

I'll try to give you some backround info: One of the members of DD's high school bowling team is in the midst of a messy family crisis. The friend is an 18 year old senior who has recently established a relationship with her birth father, who has been out of the picture her entire life (by his choice). She went searching for him this summer via the internet, found him and established an online relationship. At this point she informed her mother. They were never married and she married someone else three years later. The mom started an online relationship with him, too, which has led to the disintegration of her marriage. There are three other children involved in this mess.

Now the husband has filed for divorce. He has told mother and daughter to be out of their apartment by October 4th and mom and daughter are planning on moving to New York, where the birth father lives. I have real concerns about the daughter regarding her completion of high school in 2009.

Here are my questions:

1. Does NY state still have the Regents exam? What is involved in the exam?
2. What are the graduation requirements for high school?
3. Do senior transfers have the same requirements for graduation as someone who entered high school (in NY) as freshmen?

I am also wondering about requirements for a driver's license. She currently has held a Florida Lerner's Permit (Restricted License) for over a year. She could take the Operator's road test at any time, but her mother won't allow her to because she doesn't want her insurance to go up. If she doesn't get her Operator's License here before moving, will she have to start the process all over again when she moves to NY?

Many of us are trying to convince the mother that she should not make the move to NY until her daughter graduates next June. The daughter is not a great student and we're worried that she won't be able to graduate if she's suddenly thrown into a new environment with different educational requirements. The daughter did pass the FCAT (Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test) but it took three tries.

Any advice/opinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated! We don't have much time to change the mother's mind.

 

[fraggle551]

I graudated from a NY high school in 2005, so I will do my best to answer your questions.

As far as requirements for graduation, they changed right after I graduated. Here is a chart that should show what you need http://www.nyssca.org/NYSED.htm

I believe that now you need 4 credits in all the major subjects: history, math, science, and english. Im not 100% positive on that, but I know it got more difficult after I graduated, and we needed 3 in most.

You also need 1 health credit, 4 years of P.E., 1 fine arts credit.

I would recommend calling a guidance counselor and asking them - they will know the most up to date information.

As far as regents - they are difficult. We are taught to the regents; that is the teachers teach material that is commonly on them. We start this in about 7th grade, so it is just normal to us after awhile. Coming in your senior year and needing to take 5 - 8 regents would be very very difficult.

Most regents are a multiple choice.essay type test. If you google 'practice regents exams' there should be tons and tons of examples. Barnes and Noble also has practice regents review books (made my Barron) that are very helpful.

Now driving - they also changed the requirements right after I got my license. You have to be 16 to obtain a permit, and can only drive with a parent or driving instructor. It used to be you took your road test and got your license at 17 if you took drivers ed. I believe that has changed, and now you have to have recorded driving hours with an instructor and/or a parent, and may have to wait until 18 if that is not done. Hopefully someone else knows better than I do. Here is the information from the NYS DMV on obtaining a license:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#newdrivers

Good Luck to your friend.

 

[Patch'sD]

Students first entering grade nine in the 2001-2002 school year, but prior to the 2008-2009 school year, shall have earned at least 22 units of credit including two credits in physical education to receive either a Regents or local high school diploma. Students first entering grade nine in the 2008-2009 school year and thereafter shall have earned at least 22 units of credit including two credits in physical education to receive a Regents diploma. Such units of credit shall incorporate the commencement level of the State learning standards in: English language arts; social studies; mathematics, science, technology; the arts (including visual arts, music, dance and theatre); languages other than English; health, physical education, family and consumer sciences; and career development and occupational studies. Such units of credit shall include:

(i) English, four units of credit;

(ii) social studies, four units of credit as set forth in paragraph (6) of this subdivision;

(iii) science, three units of credit of commencement level science, at least one course shall be life sciences and at least one in the physical sciences, the third may be either life sciences or physical sciences;

(iv) mathematics, three units of mathematics, which shall be at a more advanced level than grade eight and shall meet commencement-level learning standards as determined by the commissioner;

(v) visual arts and/or music, dance, or theatre, one unit of credit; and

(vi) health education, one half unit of credit in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 135.3(c) of this Title. Learning standards in the area of parenting shall be attained through either the health or family and consumer sciences programs or a separate course.

In NYS, You can obtain a Junior License at 16 years old pending completion of the required course and passing a road test. There are restrictions on the JR License (No Night Time Driving Alone). It is basically Useless on Long Island and NYC. A Senior License is available at 18. You may get a drivers license at 17 if you complete a Drivers Education Course. If you wanted to get a NY License you will have to abide by these restrictions.

NY Regents have been dumbed down over the years. Passing is now 55%. A New York State Regents Diploma does not carry the weight it once did

 

[undercovermom]

the girl is 18, the graduated licensing requirements are irrelevant. If she does not have a Florida license, she must get a NY learner's permit by sitting for a written exam. then she may take a road test and obtain a license. if she has a florida license, all she needs to do is exhange it for a NY license.

as for Regents exams...they're given throughout high school, as subjects are completed. by senior year, most students have taken all of their Regents exams.

schools offer what's known as a "local diploma" to students who don't meet the state's requirements for a Regents diploma. and I think there's also an alternative test known as the RCT -- a generalized competency test rather than the subject-matter Regents exam.

 

[wdw4us2]

the girl is 18, the graduated licensing requirements are irrelevant. If she does not have a Florida license, she must get a NY learner's permit by sitting for a written exam. then she may take a road test and obtain a license. if she has a florida license, all she needs to do is exhange it for a NY license.

as for Regents exams...they're given throughout high school, as subjects are completed. by senior year, most students have taken all of their Regents exams.

schools offer what's known as a "local diploma" to students who don't meet the state's requirements for a Regents diploma. and I think there's also an alternative test known as the RCT -- a generalized competency test rather than the subject-matter Regents exam.

Is the 'local diploma' similar to what we have in Florida called the 'attendence diploma'? All this certifies is that you attending and graduated from high school, but it won't get you into any colleges - not even a community college.

 

[allison443]

What are the girl's plans for after high school? Would obtaining a GED be an option?

 

[wdw4us2]

Before her change of plans, she was going to a private community college to get a degree as an LPN and an AS degree.

 

[allison443]

Just want to add to the OP, it is very nice of you to be so concerned about this girl. It sounds like a very complicated situation.

 

[wdw4us2]

Just want to add to the OP, it is very nice of you to be so concerned about this girl. It sounds like a very complicated situation.

Thanks. There are several of us who can't believe what the mother is planning on doing. I can't believe that she is going to leave without fighting to stay. I don't agree with what she's doing, but we can't seem to convince her that she will never get custody of the other children if she leaves and moves to another state. She will be abandoning the three other kids! They are 15, 13 and 11.

The mom is not the sharpest tool in the shed and has no means of supporting herself. She became pregnant when she was 15. After she had her daughter, she dropped out of school and has never even gotten her GED. She can't afford an attorney and won't do anything to help herself. I can't believe she would throw away her marriage and other children to be with someone who abandoned her and her daughter for 18 years. I really feel badly for her husband who has helped to raise these kids (including the oldest) and always provided for the family. His parents can't stand the mom and are paying for his attorney.

It's just a very sad situation. There will be no winners in this mess.

 

[undercovermom]

a "local diploma" means you successfuly finished your coursework in all academic areas but that you did not pass the Regents exams. if she's looking for her LPN, the local diploma -- or a GED -- should be sufficient for most schools.

 

[wdw4us2]

Thanks for all of your replies. I have done some research on the points you brought up and I'm printing out some of the info.

After DD's bowling match on Thursday, I am taking DD and her team mate out to dinner. I am going to see if she knew about anything that I have learned from your replies as well as present her with the info I have found. I'm not trying to turn her against her mother, I just want her to understand that she needs to see the future affects this decision will have on her life, not just the present situation.