New York state high school principals and superintendents were surveyed regarding their evaluations of the statewide minimum competency testing program for high school graduation. Program data were also supplied by the principals. It was concluded that: (1) 85 percent of eleventh grade students had completed the basic competency test graduation requirements (reading and mathematics); (2) 65 percent of tenth grade students had completed the basic competency test requirements for graduation; (3) for over half of all students who had not completed the requirements, administrative problems were the reason; (4) most public schools and one-half of the private schools offered remedial help to students who failed the tests; (5) most schools administered basic competency tests for the first time to ninth graders; (6) most school administrators felt the standards were appropriate or too low, and favored emphasizing life skills; (7) one half of the administrators would accept passing scores on the Regents tests in lieu of competency test passing scores; (8) many administrators endorsed a statewide minimum standard but felt it should be raised; and (9) many principals did not want the competency tests administered during the Regents examinations period, and wanted to exempt certain handicapped students. (MH)