School committee advances revised graduation rules, adds competency-determination policy for review

The School Committee voted to send updated graduation requirements (policy IKF) and a new competency-determination policy (IKFA) to the full school committee for a first reading. The proposals update credit and competency language after state guidance removed the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) as a mandatory graduation pathway for future classes. The policies matter because they change how students can demonstrate competency to graduate. Committee members said the changes clarify pathways for students in classes of 2026 and 2027 and add an alternative review process for students who do not meet the standard routes. Under the draft IKFA competency determination, successful completion is defined in the charts as a final course grade of 65 or above and a final exam grade of 65 or above. For the class of 2026 the chart still shows MCAS-based options; for the class of 2027 and beyond the competency pathways rely on subject completion (English, math and a lab science) and local determinations. Committee members discussed math-specific language: rather than simply “two years of math,” the draft directs the review panel to confirm that courses address the 2017 math framework standards for Algebra I and geometry or comparable standards embedded in courses that meet those expectations. The draft also creates a school-led alternative review panel for students who have not earned a competency determination under the standard criteria. That team would be led by the high school principal and include the assistant principal, the student’s counselor and the curriculum leader(s) for the relevant subjects; special-education or ESL staff would be included as needed. The policy permits alternate courses that the team finds meet demonstrated competency requirements to be used in determinations. Committee members flagged a recent DESE clarification requiring that, beginning with the class of 2027, students must “successfully complete one U.S. history course” (the guidance does not require a specific course title). The draft was adjusted for consistent phrasing (for example, changing “1 US history course” to “US history class”) and to keep flexibility should state frameworks change. No final local graduation rule was adopted at the meeting; the committee moved the policies to the full school committee for formal first readings. Committee members said they will reconvene to refine wording where necessary after further review of DESE materials. Looking ahead, the policies will return to the full school committee for additional consideration and a possible vote after members and staff incorporate the curricular clarifications and legal references that were discussed.