After ballot change, Groton‑Dunstable to form committee to set local competency determination for graduation

School officials told the Groton‑Dunstable Regional School District School Committee on Jan. 22 that the district is forming a committee to craft a local competency determination now that Massachusetts voters removed MCAS as a statewide graduation requirement.

Doctor Bruno reported that the ballot change removes the state requirement that a student achieve a “proficient” score on 10th‑grade MCAS tests to graduate. "Given that, all districts must now come up with a competency determination measure, or expectation that's linked to graduation requirements, but that is not a child's score on MCAS in 10th grade," Bruno said.

The high school principal will convene a committee that will include the principal, Kristen (assistant superintendent referenced in the meeting), at least one school committee member, and teachers — likely one from each department — to develop the district’s local approach. Bruno said current seniors are not immediately affected because the district already has seniors who have met the prior competency determination through MCAS; the work will focus on future cohorts.

Bruno also noted a state effort announced in a Jan. 17 press release from Gov. Healey establishing a Massachusetts K‑12 statewide graduation council to develop consistent statewide graduation expectations; the council will include a cross‑section of educators, students and state officials and may work over one to two years to craft recommendations.

The school committee asked members to notify the chair if they are interested in serving on the local committee; officials said the district hopes to complete a local competency approach by this spring for planning purposes.