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Wachusett outlines local path for class of 2025 after MCAS removal; committee to consider policy quickly
Summary
Principal Michael Pratt presented proposed competency‑determination language the district could use for the class of 2025 after state law removed MCAS as a mandatory graduation requirement. School leaders urged a prompt committee decision to give students certainty.
Principal Michael Pratt told the school committee the district must define a local competency determination now that MCAS is no longer a state graduation requirement.
Why it matters: The change affects students in the graduating class of 2025 and may require districts to define local coursework‑based standards that certify mastery of state academic standards formerly demonstrated by MCAS scores.
Principal Pratt outlined a recommendation for the class of 2025: students who have not earned a competency determination via MCAS must “satisfactorily complet[e] coursework that has been certified by Wachusett Regional High School as showing the mastery of the skills competency and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the MCAS high school tests.” To operationalize that, Pratt proposed course‑completion standards keyed to English (credit in English 9 and English 10 or approved equivalents), math (passing grades in two of the listed mathematics sequences), and science (passing a listed science course such as physics, biology or chemistry).
Pratt said the recommended language was crafted to mirror the new statute and to protect students who had already taken relevant coursework: “What essentially is being asked by the Department of Education? Number 1 is adhere strictly to the requirements of that new statute ... making sure that our equivalent coursework meets those standards and guidelines.”
Committee discussion and timing: School committee members pressed for a quick decision so students in need of clarity could plan for the spring. Member Haber noted a small but real population of students may be affected and urged swift action. Principal Pratt estimated the number of students potentially affected “is less than a dozen.” Several members suggested the committee will likely adopt interim language for the class of 2025 and revisit policy for later classes if DESE issues further guidance.
Next steps: The superintendent and high‑school principal said they will draft formal competency‑determination language for committee consideration at the next meeting so affected students can know whether they can graduate in May or need to take other coursework.
No binding policy was adopted in this meeting; the committee chair said he expects the item to be on the next agenda for action.
