Snow day scuttles high school Regents exams

Most Long Island high school students missed out Thursday on taking scheduled Regents exams - including some tests required for graduation - as nearly all districts closed because of snow.

State Education Department officials announced Thursday the small number of seniors lacking only a passing grade on Regents exams for a January 2011 graduation may use passing course grades to meet the requirement for a diploma. Others can take the tests in June, officials said.

"I urge all the affected students to come back in June to earn the scores they need for a Regents diploma," Commissioner David Steiner said.

On Long Island Thursday, at least four districts opened with a delay, including three - William Floyd, South Country and Center Moriches - where Regents exams were administered.

Regents exams scheduled Thursday included U.S. history and government, geometry, chemistry and physics. Districts were also scheduled to offer Regents Competency Tests to special education students in science and reading. All students must pass U.S. history and one of four science exams - two scheduled Thursday - to graduate. The exams are offered three times a year.

South Country Superintendent Joseph L. Cipp Jr. said the Regents exams trailed only school and staff safety in the decision to remain open.

William Floyd Superintendent Paul Casciano said about half of the students eligible to take Regents exams Thursday showed up. "I would not make a decision for kids to come in if I really thought kids were going to be in danger," he said.

Liz Fuentes, a William Floyd senior, said she "really didn't want it to get canceled," because she needs the U.S. history exam to graduate.

With Michael R. Ebert