[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6305268,"mediaKeyId","2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd","parentId",2449218,"title","District seeks DESE waiver for RISE night program pilot targeting older students at risk of dropping out","audioSeconds",280,"startMs",3734000,"endMs",4014000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd&start=3734&end=4014","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd/thumbnail_3734000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305268/Massachusetts/District-seeks-DESE-waiver-for-RISE-night-program-pilot-targeting-older-students-at-risk-of-dropping-out","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305268-ad989b42662495cbe2ac359599613b8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166967&Signature=oTplW6o6xm6Kb-WV86IBuXa4yvj07lhL1Mpo2eVpAY7WhZqKymkae1dehx3Ami6Ha2FdDrv0djQbSsKd4m4lwb0fPo5c~foDoVSop32-Ep-k4dubioKo-qZ6AvLquf7S3ez-H4pVbNGhfs3FFqDHRTEOAYNXf835Lja1WM2iVGjAMx7xcDtcZVBloUTI3Lcaly07o-qD5fIEvN2Oy2NyuGK734KCu91-q5utGzb7X1OIqtqvxGTIRd7W39LoE54s3dcWRU~vAmWKA7jgtUwkjlnrIGRyNFXbSrbHx~AX9Xqxtzxq0UDtrfV3SCzsZuQFONsO8RPow-0ut0WZZIckpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lawrence Public Schools, MA","date","2025-02-27T13:51:07Z","article","The Lawrence board approved a student-learning-time waiver on Feb. 26 that will allow the district to run a second-semester pilot of a RISE Academy evening program for approximately 40 students who are at risk of dropping out or need a nontraditional schedule.

Carlos Cordero, principal of RISE Academy, told the board the night program is designed for students who work daytime shifts or have other obligations that make the traditional 8 a.m.–3 p.m. schedule infeasible. \"This night program was developed to help students with flexibility for school hours,\" Cordero said. \"This pilot program is targeting 40 students.\" The planned schedule is in-person instruction Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., plus asynchronous work and recorded or volunteer activities on Mondays and Fridays.

DESE requires Massachusetts public high schools to provide 990 hours of student-learning time. District staff explained the evening pilot, as scheduled for the remainder of the school year, would fall short of 990 hours without DESE approval because of the late start; the administration estimated the pilot would produce roughly 824 hours under the proposed second-semester schedule and therefore requested the waiver to count the structured evening and asynchronous activities toward the required hours.

Cordero described program features the board heard about: certified teachers assigned across core content areas (English, math, science, social studies plus ELL and special-education support), a partnership coordinator to verify work and volunteer hours, and an intention to expand the program after the pilot if it proves successful. \"There’s definitely a need out there,\" Cordero said, noting many prospective students work full time during the day and that the pilot aims to reengage students who had dropped out.

Board members asked how hours and volunteer work will be tracked; Cordero said a partnership coordinator will coordinate weekly with employers and volunteer sites to document hours. Administrators also told the board the district will submit another waiver for the next school year if they expand the program.

Why it matters: The RISE night program is intended to create an alternate pathway to a diploma for older students with jobs, parenting responsibilities or other barriers to daytime attendance. The pilot also tests a model other districts use to reengage students and reduce dropouts.

What’s next: The waiver was approved by the board and staff will file the waiver with DESE and begin the second-semester pilot. RISE will track attendance, in-person instructional minutes and documented work/volunteer hours and report outcomes to district leadership.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LAE Board Meeting February 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a waiver request to let a RISE Academy evening pilot count structured evening and asynchronous hours toward DESE-required learning time; the pilot targets 40 students and is intended to serve older students working day jobs or needing a flexible schedule.","taxTitle","Lawrence Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",38530,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6305273,"Lawrence adopts local competency-determination policy after state ends MCAS graduation requirement",355,2194000,2549000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd&start=2194&end=2549","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd/thumbnail_2194000.jpg","/articles/6305273/Massachusetts/Lawrence-adopts-local-competency-determination-policy-after-state-ends-MCAS-graduation-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305273-196b53fc101e8e4d7a6cfee16749638d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166967&Signature=kiaqsUU2VmMOo40Gy019RwYr5-aYAeImRICGpJLd8SC9SXsAvULJNp3Jt-P5Ughq4l0ZicoSJOxNdm~84LkPkc4p9jfa6jl7pPo-ahxwwRdfXx9IiKejFgX5P80f~u0lvoQoattSHZOmj3yhaxNrrttNj4LoFuXyi25MFBVJY5q0lDbLOM-yx89rQGextyxZ0uBLT13V9I5KWkFDVgbCUrvejaGOx1w1dySoddQwY4tNOkLcGxUnL9zipWifrSJrrjlQbXzE8JFdHHtpxa4CLgyv9MWTJB3H9-KFCaWhFLp6iJmcBbVcw8G6MqZzuSZJEf7H7nrfqgX~0krAO8d1Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawrence Alliance for Education on Wednesday adopted a local competency-determination policy that replaces the former requirement to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) as a prerequisite for a high-school diploma.

Dr. Lynn Gutierrez, who presented the recommendation with high-school administrators, told the board the change is required after a November state law change removed MCAS passing as a statewide graduation condition. \"In order to earn a Lawrence Public Schools high school diploma, students must meet the local competency determination,\" Gutierrez said. \"Competency is based on the academic standards and the curriculum frameworks for 10th grade and on satisfactorily completing coursework certified by the district showing mastery of the skills measured by the MCAS tests: English language arts, mathematics and science and technology.\"

The district’s adopted language requires that students complete full-credit courses that align to the content measured by MCAS: English 9 and English 10; Algebra I and Geometry (or equivalent); and one science from biology, chemistry, physics or technology and engineering. Students who completed Algebra I in eighth grade will have that course counted toward the algebra requirement, the presentation said. The policy gives building principals or their designees authority to make final decisions on awarding the competency determination after a transcript audit.

The policy also provides a pathway for individuals who previously received a certificate of attainment because they had not passed MCAS. Those alumni may request a transcript audit; if the district determines the older transcript meets the current coursework-and-credit standard, the student would receive a diploma bearing the current year. \"Upon request, those individuals can have an audit of their transcript, and we’ll determine if they meet the current graduation requirements and competency determination criteria,\" Gutierrez said. She added that, if the transcript is accepted, the diploma would be dated with the current school year rather than retroactively dated.

Board discussion focused on consistency across the district’s multiple high-school programs — the main comprehensive campus, RISE Academy and the High School Learning Center (HLC) — and on how graduation requirements beyond the competency determination may vary by campus. Victor Caraballo, a high-school administrator, explained that competency determination is a common district standard but individual high schools can set additional graduation-credit requirements appropriate to their program models.

Several board members asked how the district will reach alumni who may be eligible for a diploma via transcript audit. Superintendent Carrero said staff will advertise the option on the district website, in the local newspaper and by using alumni contact functions in the student information system where possible. Staff estimated they could review more than 1,000 transcripts dating back to 2003 and described the audit as a case-by-case process to verify course equivalency and standards alignment.

Why it matters: The policy converts prior certificates of attainment into diploma opportunities for qualifying alumni and sets a district-defined, coursework-based route for current students to earn diplomas. The change responds to a statewide shift in graduation rules and may increase access to postsecondary education and workforce opportunities for adults whose diplomas were previously withheld for MCAS reasons.

What the policy does not do: It does not remove course or credit requirements set by individual high schools; it does not require any single high school to make its graduation-credit requirements identical to other campuses.

What’s next: The board approved the policy; staff will publish procedures and a transcript-audit request form and advertise the opportunity to alumni. Building principals retain final authority to award competency determination in individual cases.

","The district approved local criteria for awarding high-school diplomas now that passing MCAS is no longer a statewide graduation requirement. The policy bases diplomas on certified coursework aligned to 10th-grade standards and establishes a transcript-audit process for alumni.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6305279,"Board ratifies union contract, approves ICE policy, calendar, night-school waiver and other items",825,547000,1372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd&start=547&end=1372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2449218-965bb505b3abe71c15719957094a0fbd/thumbnail_547000.jpg","/articles/6305279/Massachusetts/Board-ratifies-union-contract-approves-ICE-policy-calendar-night-school-waiver-and-other-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305279-58c7d5d8131e6e01ad6eeed1292112fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166967&Signature=ZWhDXIG5Yz8EmRmNVr7NoF~fElJwxueA0tCnashRDuXJ9-wt70K1b1avwhpHvmQKrM7aLg8XC6VSUNrGpqlaZhI6PKrZtTHwjXiZ5Q9IvM2pHyCwOLunf8xVlUbG5GsIWVMbef3NqnVr8Hgm6fsxMYOV~hoL8wE~vBFWkWkNRy~CAOMtDJE9dPwhq~5Dgoxie88RyVDRfgfkDA6y1HOFjuccjTYMAPmOufTqDlrajCZS00ldEctTRCqF9qGAjkpa47WCQT-OnEHzN44kMOfgUjiTbeA4jnhnziGK-PYrKfwMlpqjWuLCe4toWmOWJED9A2elIAY83jEH2Ynn1WsqPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Lawrence Alliance for Education on Wednesday, Feb. 26, the board approved a package of policies, a three-year union contract for school safety officers, the 2025–26 student and family calendar, a local competency-determination policy for diplomas and a Department of Education waiver allowing a pilot evening program at RISE Academy to count toward student learning time.

The motion to update the district’s policy governing responses to Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests — described in the meeting packet as a revised section E of Student Support Services and reviewed by the district’s legal counsel — passed on a roll call vote. Superintendent Carrero told the board the revisions remove outdated 2016 contextual language, add links to attorney-general guidance and clarify practices such as parental consent and judicial warrants. \"We will post it on our website, both in English and [Spanish], to let our families know and reassure them that we are here for them,\" Carrero said during the presentation.

The board also ratified a three-year contract with Laborers International Union Local 175 for the district’s safety officers, retroactive to July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027. The administration said the agreement includes a 4% increase in each contract year, with an additional 2% market-rate adjustment effective July 1, 2024, and that salary increases are contingent on satisfactory performance evaluations. Human-resources staff told the board the market analysis was performed to align pay with surrounding districts.

Other formal approvals included the student-and-family calendar for school year 2025–26 and a student-learning-time waiver the district will submit to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to allow a RISE Academy evening pilot to meet required hours. The waiver covers a pilot for approximately 40 night-program students and was presented as a second-semester pilot; district staff said they will submit a separate waiver for next school year if the program continues.

Facility rentals and two facility-use requests were approved under the district’s updated rental policy, which requires liability insurance and payment for custodial, safety and technology personnel as appropriate. The board approved minutes from the Dec. 11, 2024 meeting; two members abstained from that vote because they said they had not reviewed the minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Add agenda item: Add discussion and vote on the Lawrence Public Schools Competency Determination Policy — motion to add carried (vote not specified on the record).

- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy update — Motion to approve revised Student Support Services section E (immigration/ICE) — Roll call recorded: Dr. Dolores Gala (yes); Arlene Garcia (yes); Juana Matias (yes); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved.

- School year 2025–26 Student and Families Calendar — Motion to approve calendar as presented — Roll call recorded: Dr. Torres Kalaf (yes); Arlene Garcia (yes); Juana Matias (yes); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved.

- Safety officers union contract ratification (Laborers International Union Local 175) — Three-year contract, retroactive to 7/1/2024–6/30/2027; 4% annual increases plus a one-time 2% market adjustment effective 7/1/2024; increases contingent on satisfactory performance — Roll call recorded: Dr. Dolores Gala (yes); Arlene Garcia (yes); Juana Matias (yes); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved.

- Lawrence Public Schools Competency Determination Policy — Motion to adopt district competency determination language (see separate article for fuller discussion) — Roll call recorded: Dr. Dolores Gala (yes); Arlene Garcia (yes); Juana Matias (yes); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved.

- Student learning time waiver for RISE (night) Academy — Motion to approve waiver for second-semester pilot so evening instruction and structured asynchronous/work/volunteer hours count toward DESE-required hours — Roll call recorded (as read into the record): Arlene Garcia (yes); Juana Matias (yes); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved.

- Facilities rental requests (Weatherby gym and a district venue for an external dance recital) — Motion to approve pending required insurance and fees; district staff confirmed custodial/tech/safety charges apply and school events take precedence — Roll call recorded: Jojo Lores Galaf (yes); Arlene Garcia (yes); Juana Matias (yes); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved.

- Minutes, Dec. 11, 2024 — Motion to approve minutes. Roll call: Joce Dolores Galaf (yes); Arlene Garcia (abstain — had not read); Juana Matias (abstain — not present); Maria Mueller (yes). Outcome: approved (with abstentions).

Why it matters: The votes finalize several operational decisions that shape the coming school year, employee compensation and short-term program pilots. The ICE policy revision is meant to clarify how the district responds to federal requests and to reassure families; the union contract and rental approvals have budgetary and operational implications; the RISE waiver and the competency-determination policy affect diplomas and alternate pathways for students.

What’s next: Staff said the ICE policy will be posted on district sites in English and Spanish. The RISE pilot will be implemented this semester and a separate waiver will be filed for the next school year if the program continues. The district will advertise the new competency-determination transcript-audit option for alumni and will accept requests for individual transcript reviews.","At its Feb. 26 meeting, the Lawrence board approved several administrative policies, a three-year contract for school safety officers, the 2025–26 student calendar, a competency-determination policy and a student-learning-time waiver for a night program. Minutes were approved with two abstentions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District seeks DESE waiver for RISE night program pilot targeting older students at risk of dropping out

Lawrence adopts local competency-determination policy after state ends MCAS graduation requirement

Board ratifies union contract, approves ICE policy, calendar, night-school waiver and other items