The Hampden‑Wilbraham Regional School District Policy Subcommittee voted Monday to place a draft graduation requirements policy on the full school committee agenda for a first reading.

Members described the draft as a two‑part approach: part A lists the course requirements students must complete for a diploma; part B defines the competency determination (CD) formerly tied to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). The draft identifies a set of courses tied to grade‑10 standards — for example, English language arts/composition (sophomore English), Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and biology — that will satisfy a student’s competency determination if the student successfully completes them. For a small group of students who historically cannot participate in on‑demand testing, the draft preserves an alternate portfolio (also called a proficiency binder) process in which students demonstrate mastery through multiple, documented examples rather than a single test.

Committee members discussed expectations and workload. District staff told the subcommittee that most students will meet the requirements through existing coursework and that the portfolio pathway is expected to apply to very few students — the superintendent reported that, in the current graduating class of about 260 students, only one student had not met the competency determination under prior MCAS‑based rules. Subcommittee members pressed for clarity on how “passing” a course will be defined and who will oversee cross‑class standardization; staff said existing course structures and supervision will be used and that the portfolio pathway will require some additional, limited tutoring support for a small number of students.

After discussion, a motion to approve forwarding the draft for a first reading at the full school committee passed on a voice vote. Members agreed to continue reviewing the policy on an ongoing basis and to track program‑of‑studies alignment and implementation issues as the draft moves through the formal policy process.