Students across the state will have more ways to earn their high school diplomas.

Students must currently pass five Regents exams to graduate, with one each in English, science and math, and two in history.

However, the Board of Regents has approved a new plan that will let high schoolers replace one of the two history tests with an exam for a different skill set. Options include the arts, career or technical education, science, technology, mathematics or engineering.

The Regents chancellor says the goal of the new pathways is to increase graduation rates and increase the number of students who are ready for college and their future careers.

If adopted, the new option would start with seniors graduating this school year.