Seniors who have passed all of their Keystone exams are being unfairly required to take final exams, despite the long-standing precedent that exempted them. This abrupt change affects not only students who have worked hard to meet graduation requirements but also teachers who were not prepared to accommodate finals. For students like me, whose teacher retired mid-year, we’re already behind on coursework and this decision adds unnecessary stress to an already challenging situation.

If this decision stands, it undermines the trust students and families have in school leadership and breaks a promise that has been honored for years. It also disrupts plans students have made based on the expectation that they wouldn’t have to take finals—such as travel, jobs, or preparing for college. For teachers, it creates last-minute grading and scheduling challenges that could impact the entire school’s end-of-year flow.

With exams less than a month away, there is still time to reverse this decision and honor the commitment made to seniors. Taking action now would restore fairness, reduce stress, and show students that their efforts and voices matter. If not addressed, many families are ready to raise this issue to higher authorities, bringing even more disruption than necessary.