After statewide vote, Weston panel outlines local competency option and steps to support seniors who lack MCAS pass

Kimo (staff member) presented a proposed local competency-determination policy to the Weston School Committee after the statewide vote removed the MCAS examination as an automatic graduation requirement.

“Kimo” told the committee the state no longer allows the MCAS to be used as the default competency determination and that districts must define local alternatives while the state convenes a broader commission to set statewide guidance. In his presentation, Kimo said the district’s proposed language would allow students who have not already satisfied competency via MCAS to earn it by completing specified coursework with a passing grade.

Under the draft language presented by district staff, a student who has not met competency via MCAS could earn the district competency determination by meeting all three course-based conditions: - Receive a passing grade in a Grade 10 English course or any year-long English course higher in the sequence (for example, English 11 or AP English), or an equivalent course approved by the principal. - Receive a passing grade in geometry or any year-long math course higher in the sequence (for example, algebra II, precalculus, calculus, statistics), or an equivalent course approved by the principal. - Receive a passing grade in biology, chemistry or physics, or an equivalent course approved by the principal.

Kimo said the district would continue to accept prior MCAS passes and MCAS retest passes as competency determinations for students who already completed them. He also noted that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) continues to require students to take MCAS for accountability and reporting purposes even though the test’s link to graduation has changed.

Committee members sought legal and practical clarity. School Committee member Ken urged keeping the status quo and said the district could continue using the MCAS for competency until the state’s commission issues guidance. Kimo and others noted DESE counsel Kelly Gonzalez had sent a memo to districts that warned against relying on MCAS as the sole competency determination and recommended course- or portfolio-based local options.

School Committee member Adam said the district should consider options that would serve Weston’s standards (including benchmarking alternatives) while providing clear paths for seniors who still require a competency determination. Kimo told the committee that there are seniors in the current class who have not yet passed MCAS and who therefore need a locally defined pathway to graduate.

After discussion, the committee asked staff to share the DESE/legal memo with members, to ask counsel directly whether passing MCAS can be a local requirement, and to return quickly with a refined recommendation that addresses seniors currently impacted by the change.

The meeting concluded business with a consent-agenda vote that included the appointment/contract for a new director of finance, grant approvals and a motion to enter executive session. The committee moved the consent agenda and conducted a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded the following tersely: Jeff (aye), Ken (aye), Adam (aye), Thiao (aye). The chair announced the consent agenda passed and the meeting moved to executive session.