Lawrence schools adopt local competency-determination rules after state ends MCAS graduation requirement

The Lawrence Alliance for Education on Feb. 26 voted to adopt a local competency-determination policy that defines course requirements students must meet to receive a Lawrence Public Schools diploma after the state ended the MCAS graduation requirement.

Superintendent Carrero told the board the change follows a November state law revision that removed MCAS as a mandatory graduation requirement and that the district worked with legal counsel and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to draft district language.

Under the adopted policy, students must take and earn full credit in English 9 and English 10, Algebra I and Geometry, and one of a set of tenth-grade-aligned science courses (biology, chemistry, physics, or technology and engineering), or an equivalent. The policy notes students who previously earned competency by passing MCAS remain recognized. Transfer students will receive a diploma pending an audit of their transcripts showing the listed credits.

Dr. Lynn Gutierrez, who presented the recommendation with headmaster Victor Caravaggio, said the district will continue to administer MCAS and use results to inform instruction even though MCAS cannot be used to deny competency determination under the new law. "MCAS is still given at the high school level, and we use that information to help inform our instruction," Gutierrez said.

Board members asked about consistency across high school campuses and how diplomas would be issued retroactively. Gutierrez and Caravaggio said the competency determination is uniform across Lawrence’s high schools but graduation requirements may differ by campus because of programmatic differences; students with qualifying transcripts from prior years may request an audit and, if approved, be issued a diploma dated 2025.

The board approved the policy by roll call vote with Doctor Dolores Galaf, Arlene Garcia, Juana Matias and Maria Mueller voting yes.

Superintendent Carrero said the district will monitor implementation and collect data to assess the policy’s impact; building principals retain final discretion on awarding competency determinations and diplomas.

The district also discussed outreach plans for alumni and former students who may qualify for a diploma under the new rules; staff said transcript reviews will be handled case by case and the district will publicize the opportunity once the board’s vote took effect.