Officials argue endlessly over a school funding formula that is more complex than anything found on the new, tougher math Regents exam.

He also said he planned to offer glossaries in nine languages that students could use for the math Regents this fall.

Statewide, 99 out of every 100 students have taken the math Regents and 72 percent have passed, news that Mr. Mills trumpeted.

On the math Regents, only 67 percent of the black students and 65 percent of the Hispanic students passed, compared with 86 percent of the white students.

Two months after finishing his chemo and radiation, he took the math Regents, scoring a 98.

The math Regents will also be required this year, with an additional exam becoming mandatory every year through 2002-03.

The proportion in the city who had already passed the math Regents, 56 percent, compared unfavorably with the statewide figure, 77 percent.

But when she missed the required math Regents Exam the next spring, she gave up.

Next year, math Regents will be added.

"I have to pass the math Regents in January," said Ginell Walker, 15, a 10th grader.