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Hopkinton school committee adopts coursework-based competency determination for graduation
Summary
The Hopkinton School Committee unanimously approved a district policy defining competency for graduation based on student coursework in specified 9th–10th grade classes, rather than on a single standardized test.
The Hopkinton School Committee on Jan. 23 voted unanimously to adopt a local competency determination that relies on students’ successful completion of specified coursework rather than any single statewide test.
Superintendent Dr. Kavanaugh said the district’s option responds to a change in state law that removed MCAS as the sole competency measure and allows districts to certify mastery through coursework consistent with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
Under the committee-approved criteria, students will demonstrate competency by passing: 9th- and 10th-grade English; algebra and geometry (or algebra 1 and algebra 2 depending on the student’s math sequence); and one core laboratory science (biology, chemistry or physics). The policy includes provisions for students who transfer into Hopkinton or who left school before 2025: competency for those students will be determined by transcript review or by scheduling relevant courses aligned to the Massachusetts frameworks.
District staff said the coursework approach is intended to align competency to the 10th-grade curriculum frameworks and to allow the district to provide supports in grades 11 and 12 for any student who does not yet meet the standard. Evan Bishop, a district staff member involved in curriculum work, said students who do not meet the criteria in 10th grade would receive monitored supports and opportunities to pass the relevant coursework in later years.
The committee discussed whether a minimum letter-grade threshold should be higher than the district’s existing passing grade (D, 60–69). Some committee members expressed concern that raising the passing grade to a C (70) would be a substantial change and would require further study and community input. Committee members agreed that any change to the districtwide definition of a passing grade would need additional analysis and public discussion before adoption.
Jamie moved the motion to approve the competency criteria as presented by the district staff; Kyla seconded. The roll-call vote was unanimous.
The committee and district leaders said they will continue to administer MCAS as a data point and to provide remediation and targeted supports—MCAS results and course performance will both inform supports for students approaching competency standards.
The committee’s action applies to the Hopkinton Public Schools’ graduation determinations going forward; the district noted that the governor has convened a task force on graduation requirements and that the state may issue further guidance in coming months.
