Why A Research Paper BEFORE The ELA Regents?

The Times-Union reported that the Regents are considering adding a 1,250 word, four source research paper to graduation requirements for high school students.

The paper reported that the Regents are considering making that research paper a requirement BEFORE students take the ELA Regents exam:

The state would provide the minimum requirement for the paper, but school districts would have the most say on what would be expected of students. There would be extra accommodations for special education students and English language learners. Students who need extra time could begin the paper in their sophomore year.

Students would have to use four sources in their five-page papers, which would have to be completed before they take their Regents exams.

Most high school students take their ELA Regents in junior year.

Wouldn't it make more sense to make the research paper a senior year requirement AFTER students have completed their ELA Regents exam?

The plan still has to be approved by a final vote of the entire Regents board, but given that NYSED Commissioner King and Regents Chancellor Tisch have undue influence over those votes, if they decide they want this research paper as a requirement for students BEFORE they take the ELA Regents exam, it will pass a Board of Regents vote.

But as with much of education policy coming from these people in Albany these days, it makes little sense and seems to be just another way they are setting students, teachers and schools up to fail.

Put the paper in AFTER the ELA Regents exam.

Make the Regents exam smaller tasks that lead up to something like a research paper.

Make the research paper a senior year requirement.

That makes more sense to me.

But what do I know?

After all, I'm just a lowly ELA teacher who never clamored to get out of the classroom after two years of teaching to go work in policy.