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Committee receives first read of competency-determination policy; questions focus on equity and appeals
Summary
Policy IKF-A, the district's draft implementing language for the state's new competency-determination graduation requirement, was presented; members asked how the policy will handle students with high needs, alternate coursework, appeals and timing of notifications.
The School Committee received a first reading March 12 of proposed policy IKF-A (Competency Determination), a district-level implementation of the state's recently changed graduation requirements.
Miss Elliott, district staff member, described the policy language presented to the committee. The draft ties competency determination to three elements: (1) receiving a passing grade in the grade-10 equivalent English course or an equivalent approved by the high school principal or designee; (2) a passing grade in Algebra I and a high-school geometry course (or equivalent); and (3) earning a passing grade in a grade-10 biology or equivalent. The draft also includes a showing-mastery provision: a student must demonstrate mastery by successfully completing a final assessment, capstone or equivalent measure.
Committee members asked for clarification about how the policy will treat students with higher needs or students who meet standards on alternate pathways. Miss Elliott said the policy's phrase "or its equivalent as approved by the high school principal or designee" is intended to allow portfolios or alternate demonstrations of mastery in appropriate cases and that internal procedures provide more detail. "That would allow for, you know, a portfolio of work to represent the mastery of the standards," she said.
Members raised concerns about fairness and consistency across teachers and courses, and suggested attaching clearer procedures, legal citations and cross-references to other district policies. Mr. Izzo recommended adding legal references to Massachusetts General Laws and DESE regulations, cross-referencing the district's graduation-requirements policy (IKF), and clarifying appeal timelines and notification procedures. Several members asked that the district create a clear, user-friendly explanation for families and consider how nontraditional course sequences (for example, Algebra I taken in eighth grade) will be handled.
Miss Elliott said the district is mapping when students meet standards in alternative or specialized programs and will return with additional detail. The item was a first read; no vote was taken.
