Regents Research Paper required for graduation

Oh my God! What else is the Board of Regents proposing. I was reading the  State Ed site and was surprised  to read that students entering grade 9th on September 2013 will be required to write a Regents Research Paper to graduate with a Regents or Local Diploma!
Remember the 2008 freshmen cohort that graduated in 2012-13, unless a special education student, they didn't have the option of a  Local Diploma that contributed to lower graduation rates across the State especially among blacks and Latino students.
Now, they have to write a Regents Research Paper to graduate because of time constraints on the examination that can't measure writing standards for college and career readiness skills and Common Core Learning Standards. Once again the class of 2016-17, fewer students will graduate. Is there a hidden agenda here?

Regents Research Paper – The Committee discussed proposed regulatory amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations that would establish a Regents Research Paper requirement as an opportunity for students to demonstrate necessary college and career readiness skills and CCLS writing standards that cannot be measured in an examination setting due to time constraints.  The regulation would require the completion of a Regents Research Paper for graduation with a Regents or local high school diploma, beginning with those students who first enter grade 9 in September 2013 or thereafter.  Committee members requested that more detailed information be provided to guide the discussion when the proposed amendment is submitted to the Board of Regents for adoption in September.   [P-12 (D) 1]