As a student at Manhattan Hunter Science High School, I worked hard to prepare for the New York State Chemistry Regents exam. Like many of my peers, I balanced this intense study schedule with my regular school work, extracurriculars, and personal responsibilities. We all walked into that exam room ready to do our best.

However, an error occurred at our school regarding the testing materials. Because the wrong reference tables were handed out, the New York State Education Department has decided to void all of our exam results.

This is fundamentally unfair. The students did everything right, but we are the ones being penalized for an administrative mistake. We are now facing the stress of a  retake on June 24. This date causes significant problems for many of us, as we have already committed to summer internships, pre-college programs, and family travel.

We are calling on the New York State Education Department to implement a more equitable solution. We propose the following:

Alternative Assessment: For students with unavoidable conflicts on June 24, we ask that the state allow for an alternative assessment or a review of existing class performance to fulfill the credit requirement, as permitted under state regulations for equivalent knowledge and skill.

Transcript Protection: If a retake is unavoidable, we request that the state provide a formal memo for our transcripts stating that the voided June 9 score was due to an administrative error. This ensures our college applications are not unfairly penalized.

Accountability: We ask that the state provide clear protocols to ensure this level of negligence does not happen again.

We are not asking to bypass academic standards. We are asking for a solution that respects our time and integrity. Please sign this petition to demand a fair path forward for the hardworking students of Manhattan Hunter Science High School.