Mansfield School Committee adopts new graduation competency policy after MCAS change

The Mansfield School Committee on Jan. 28 adopted a revised graduation competency determination policy (IKF) spelling out how students will meet local competency now that statewide Question 2 removed MCAS as an automatic graduation requirement.

Principal Booth and Director of School Counseling Tina Caridionis told the committee the policy was written to protect students in the classes of 2025 and 2026 and to give clearer course-based pathways for future classes. Under the district’s approach, students who previously met competency by passing MCAS remain credentialed; for others, competency will be certified by completion of specific courses mapped to the 2023 state standards.

Why this matters: Massachusetts’ 2024 ballot change (Question 2) shifted the mechanism for competency determination from an automatic MCAS pass to a locally certified determination overseen by districts and DESE. Committee members said the district’s policy aims to make the change transparent for students and families facing imminent graduations.

Key points administrators presented: - For most students, competency will be met by passing English 9 and English 10 (CP or honors), the appropriate math sequence (Algebra 1 and geometry or equivalent algebra pathway at CP or honors), and a qualifying science (biology, chemistry, or introductory physics at CP or honors). These course lists are tied to the 2023 MCAS standards used for alignment. - For students on an ECP (Essential College Prep) diploma pathway, competency can be demonstrated by completion of ECP-level English 9–11 and the parallel math sequence spread across available grades; ECP-level science options also qualify where aligned with state standards. - Transfer students who enroll after grade 9 will receive a principal-led transcript review to determine whether their prior coursework satisfies Mansfield’s competency criteria. - Night-school and other alternate-program students were reviewed and, for the cohorts examined, were found to meet the proposed criteria.

Principal Booth said the district had reviewed student records for the classes of 2025 and 2026 and concluded that, under the proposed course-based standard, members of those classes who were on a standard diploma track would meet competency. Booth emphasized communication was the next step: the high school will notify affected students and families and include the changes in the program of studies and principal newsletters.

Policy vote and next steps: The committee approved policy IKF, which incorporates the competency determination language the administrative team recommended. The committee’s vote adopted the policy as the district’s official approach and authorized administrators to communicate the changes to families and staff. The policy will be used for certification of competency for currently enrolled students and to govern transcript reviews for transfers.

Administrators cautioned that DESE guidance and possible future state clarifications could prompt updates; the policy and its implementation will be revisited if DESE issues new rules or further legal guidance.

Details administrators stressed to families included what qualifies as a certified course (CP/honors/ECP distinctions), how MCAS results already earned will be honored, and the district’s pathway for special-education students using MCAS-Alt where appropriate.