The NY Inspires plan is the New York State Education Department (NYSED)’s comprehensive roadmap to transform public education in the state by 2029. At this time, current graduation requirements and the three-tiered diploma system are still in effect. Fifth graders in the 2025-26 school year will be the first class of students required to demonstrate proficiency in the state’s new graduation standards and follow the full implementation of the NY Inspires plan. As NYSED has communicated to the field, extensive stakeholder input, research and consideration of best practices in education, along with recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission, were gathered to create the plan (briefly outlined below), which was built around the following major transformations:
Adopting the NYS Portrait of a Graduate
The Portrait of a Graduate framework defines the skills and dispositions students in New York should be expected to demonstrate to earn a diploma. The Portrait, released earlier this summer, emphasizes academic excellence, civic engagement and real-world readiness.
Redefining Credits and Learning Experiences
It is expected that the new diploma requirements will be organized around the Portrait of a Graduate components. Students will earn credit through diverse experiences such as internships, capstone projects, service learning and CTE programs. Financial literacy and climate education are required starting in the 2026–27 school year, however curriculum requirements in these areas have yet to be released.
Sunsetting Diploma Assessment Requirements
Under the NY Inspires plan, traditional Regents exams and +1 Pathway Assessments will no longer be required for graduation. This doesn’t mean Regents exams are disappearing, but instead, students are expected to be able to demonstrate proficiency through multiple means, including portfolios and locally developed assessments. Note that assessments intended to meet federal accountability requirements will still be administered.
One NYS High School Diploma
The current three-tier diploma system will be replaced with a single diploma. Advanced designations in the form of seals or endorsements will also be available, allowing students to personalize their school experience and graduation credentials.
Implementation and the Portrait of a Graduate
The State Education Department’s implementation timeline to fully phase in NY Inspires indicates a strategic multiyear rollout to ensure adequate preparation and adoption.
Planning Year
(Fall 2024 to Summer 2025)
Portrait of a Graduate
At its July 2025 meeting, the New York State Board of Regents officially adopted the Portrait of a Graduate, the framework designed to prepare students for success in college, careers, and civic life. Full statewide alignment to the Portrait is expected for students entering grade 9 in the 2029-30 school year, and at this point school leaders throughout the state are eagerly awaiting the rubrics and other resources expected to be released by NYSED in relation to the Portrait. For now, the Portrait offers a vision for New York’s schools and students and offers school leaders a glimpse into the language that they should expect to see as NY Inspires continues to roll out statewide.
Phase 1
Installation
(Fall 2025 to Summer 2027)
It is expected that the State Education Department will release additional guidance and materials related to the Portrait throughout the next two years, which will serve to support local implementation plans. School leaders have been advised to expect rubrics and reformatted learning standards so that they may begin professional development aligned to the Portrait of a Graduate.
Phase 2
Initial Implementation
(Fall 2027 to Summer 2029)
Based on the current timeline, in the fall of 2027, school districts should expect to receive new credit requirements. At this point, districts will also prepare for full implementation in the fall of 2029 with incoming ninth grade students.
Phase 3
Full Implementation
(Fall 2029+)
By fall 2029, it is expected that schools will begin to use a new statewide transcript that will document proficiency in both learning standards and the Portrait of a Graduate, ensuring that students meet the new requirements.
State Education Department Portrait of a Graduate Resources
- View the NYSED’s NY Inspires: A Plan to Transform Education in New York State page, which includes an explanatory video.
- View Frequently Asked Questions about the Graduation Measures.