School committee amends graduation competency language for class of 2025

The Ashland School Committee on March 12 voted to amend language in the Ashland High School student handbook to clarify how students in the Class of 2025 will meet local competency determination in English, math and science.

Committee members adopted a motion to remove the handbook's "transition considerations" section and end the competency-determination text where it states that the building principal's decision shall be final. The change was presented as a way to address immediate local certification while awaiting further guidance from state authorities about MCAS-related changes.

The amendment matters because the state altered how the MCAS will be used for competency determinations, and districts must decide how local coursework will substitute for the tenth-grade MCAS standard for students affected this year. The committee's motion narrows the handbook text for the 2024-25 graduating class so local certification can be applied without the transition language that district staff and some board members said could create confusion.

District staff told the committee the proposed handbook language would allow Ashland Public Schools to count district-certified coursework that aligns with the tenth-grade MCAS standards toward competency determination for the Class of 2025. Administrators estimated the change affects roughly 20 students in English, about 20 in math and about 7 or 8 in science; district staff said most of those students are currently passing the applicable courses and that only a small number remain who did not pass MCAS ("2 or 3" in math and English, as reported at the meeting).

Superintendent Kelli (name given during the meeting) and staff emphasized the need for local flexibility because the state is still finalizing regulations and suggested the district retain discretion to certify courses case-by-case, in part to accommodate transfers, English learners and students on modified curricula. Board members asked whether the policy would preserve other graduation requirements; staff confirmed existing credit requirements (for example, four years of English and three years of history) are unchanged.

A motion to amend the competency-determination language as presented'ending the section at the statement that the building principal's decision is final'was made and seconded. The committee recorded vocal approval (Marcy: Aye; Tina: Aye; Mark: Aye) and the motion passed.

District leaders said the change will be entered into the 2024-25 student handbook. They also said the policy known as IKF will be reviewed later to align longer-term language for classes graduating after 2025 once the state issues clearer rules.

Board members and administrators emphasized that this vote was a targeted, short-term adjustment for the current graduation year and that the committee will revisit the handbook language for 2026 and beyond after receiving additional state guidance.

The committee did not adopt any new, district-wide competency standards at the meeting; the action amends handbook wording for 2025 only and leaves future determinations contingent on state directions.