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Westford School Committee delays vote on revised graduation policy amid questions on wellness and arts credits
Summary
The Westford School Committee continued discussion of revised graduation requirements (policy P6110), including proposals to combine health and physical education into a single “wellness” requirement and to clarify visual and performing arts (VPA) credit definitions. The committee opened an extended public-comment period and scheduled follow-up.
The Westford School Committee on April 28 reviewed a second draft of policy P6110, graduation requirements, and agreed to continue discussion and public input before a final vote.
Committee members and staff focused on two main points: whether the ninth-grade health requirement should be combined with physical education into a single “wellness” requirement that could be delivered with scheduling flexibility, and how the district should treat visual and performing arts (VPA) credit in order to remain aligned with MassCore recommendations.
Superintendent Chris Chiu described the draft as an attempt to align the policy with the Westford Academy program of studies and to correct internal wording and math in credit totals. The policy subcommittee proposed replacing separate “PE” and “health” labels with “wellness,” and included language allowing alternative course configurations so long as PE standards are met and documented in the program of studies.
Committee members raised concerns about the speed and scope of any change. Several members said they supported increased scheduling flexibility for students, particularly those needing accommodations or different course pathways, but cautioned against making a policy that effectively requires annual reexamination or creates an expectation that every future committee must re-open requirements. One member asked that language be revised so the document signals an alignment check with the program of studies rather than a mandatory annual policy review.
On VPA, staff reported guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and MassCore that recommends a year-long equivalent of study for arts requirements. Committee members asked curriculum staff to specify which VPA courses would meet MassCore equivalency if the district chose to recognize semester-length offerings as meeting the standard.
The committee agreed to extend the public-comment window to allow more community input and to hold a continued discussion at the May 12 business meeting, with a target of a final reading and vote at the May 27 meeting.
The committee’s next steps: staff will refine draft language to (1) make annual/program-of-studies checks advisory rather than mandatory, (2) clarify how wellness will meet state PE/health expectations, and (3) identify which VPA offerings constitute a MassCore-equivalent year of study.
A further round of public comment will be accepted before the committee’s next substantive review.
Ending: The committee did not adopt the policy on April 28 and left the draft open for revision and public comment; a second review is scheduled for May 12 with a possible final vote May 27.
