December 22, 2020

LONG ISLAND ADVOCACY CENTER

December 2020

LIAC remains open and ready to serve families!

We can help! Reach us TODAY!

516-248-2222 ext. 10 (Nassau)

631-234-0467 ext. 10 (Suffolk)

Visit us online at www.theliac.org for valuable updated information, links to more in-depth guidance, or to fill out an online intake.

El Long Island Advocacy Center brinda servicios y recursos en español. Por favor visite nuestro sitio web para más información.

The Long Island Advocacy Center wishes everyone the Happiest of Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year. 2020 brought many challenges and an ever-changing world for families and students. LIAC will continue to work to help ease the transitions and ensure every child’s education needs are met in 2021.

The January 2021 administration of the New York State Regents Examinations have been cancelled. No decisions have been made regarding June/August 2021 exams and other statewide assessments. Parents should keep in touch with their child’s guidance counselor as new information becomes available.

Students who were planning to sit for any January 2021 Regents Exams are exempt from taking, and passing, the exam in order to be issued a diploma. To qualify a student must meet ONE of the following requirements:

Be currently enrolled in a course of study which would ordinarily require taking a January Regents; or

Between September 1, 2020 and the end of the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year, successfully complete a makeup course for the purpose of earning course credits; or

Be preparing to take a required Regents exam in order to graduate at the end of the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year.

Please Note: Parents or Guardians can decline this exemption if they do not wish for their child to earn a diploma in the 2020-21 school year. More information about declining the Regents Exam exemption can be found here.

Additionally, for the 2020-2021 school year, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has granted school districts the ability to waive the 1200 minutes of laboratory experiences for science classes which are usually required for a student to be eligible to take the Regents Exam. While districts have been granted the ability to waive those minutes, districts are not required to do so. Please check with your school district for more specific information.

Any questions regarding the January Regents Exams, exemptions, and/or the 1200 minutes of lab work for Science Regents Exams should be directed to your school’s guidance department.

If you’re having a difficult time and are worried about food, meals, etc. for the upcoming holidays, please reach out to your school’s social worker. Many schools have programs and initiatives in place to assist families during the holiday season.

In addition, there are many local organizations and food pantries throughout Long Island. To find a food pantry near you, click here.