10/06/2026
Alliance board member Diane was recently interviewed by to discuss some of the most important shifts in New York State education policy right now:
📌 Sunsetting The Regents Diploma — NYSED’s phase-out of the traditional Regents exam pathway for high school graduation, opening the door to new ways of demonstrating student mastery and readiness.
📌 The Portrait of a Graduate — a reimagined framework for what success looks like for New York students, beyond standardized testing.
📌 The Plan Pilot — an exciting initiative that allows schools the opportunity to develop alternative, competency-based pathways for graduation.
These changes align deeply with what Montessori educators have known for over a century: children thrive when they are seen as whole people, not as test scores, and are offered options for how they can demonstrate their mastery.
Diane represents NYSMA on NYSED’s Commissioner’s Advisory Council for Religious & Independent Schools, providing our members with updates on access to State funding, PD, and regulatory impacts. The forthcoming comprehensive instructional and assessment adaptations are exciting changes for Montessorians across the state, from early childhood through high school!
