on may 16, 2011, in the face of an $8 million budget gap, the board of regents voted to reduce the number of tests administered. the remaining foreign language exams (french, italian, and spanish) were eliminated, although districts may administer locally developed foreign language exams to let students attain a regents diploma with advanced designation. tests administered during the month of january were to be canceled. in august 2011, new york city mayor michael bloomberg and five private donors contributed funds to ensure that the regents was administered in january 2012, although the foreign language exams remained cancelled.