Elimination of NY Regents Examinations in Italian

We the undersigned would like to express our concern and dismay at the decision recently taken up by the Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education to eliminate all language Regents Exams with the exception of Spanish and French.

During the past several years, the AATI has been actively collaborating with the College Board and supporters of Italian language education to reinstate the Advanced Placement Program in Italian Language and Culture. Thanks to these efforts, the AP in Italian has been reinstated.

Lately, however, the EMSC Committee has proposed a budget-cutting measure that would eliminate all language Regents examinations except for Spanish and French. This extreme measure would eliminate Regents examinations in Italian, Latin, Hebrew, and German. I am certain that the incoming Governor of the state of New York will be more favorable to language and ready to redraft a new budget.

Thousands of New York State high school students currently study Italian, and the elimination of the Regents examination would result in the termination of many Italian language classes in New York State.

Your support for the continuation of the Italian language and other languages Regents examinations is truly appreciated. The Empire State should set a standard of excellence in education by continuing to support the study of languages other than English.