According to today's NY Daily News, the state is considering charging school districts for the mandated Regents exams their students take. Facing a $15 million shortfall in its budget, the Board of Regents has floated the idea of charging districts a flat fee of about $6 per student to cover the cost of administering Regents exams. Another option would be to charge the district for each test taken. Students must score at least 55 on five Regents exams to graduate.

Advocates say that approach gives districts a financial incentive to limit exams outside core subjects, making their exam offerings less academically rigorous.

"It is just plain wrong for the state to essentially tax our school system for simply meeting its academic requirements," said NYC Coalition for Educational Justice parent leader Ronnette Summers.