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School Committee adopts program changes, clarifies graduation competency for class of 2025
Summary
The committee approved updates to the Oliver Ames program of studies (course additions and deletions) and amended graduation policy IKF to reflect the state's competency determination for the class of 2025; the committee left longer‑term MCAS policy questions for subsequent meetings.
The Easton School Committee voted Feb. 13 to approve revisions to the Oliver Ames High School Program of Studies for the 2025–26 school year and to amend graduation policy IKF to implement the state's competency determination for the class of 2025.
What was approved: The program of studies changes include course clean‑ups (removing electives with persistently low enrollment), additions (children's literature tied to elementary partnerships, media literacy as a semester elective, a second yearbook section to expand student leadership, an applied learning capstone and a renamed "Learning Center" for academic support), and math and science curricular clarifications. School leaders also updated language to mark courses that carry early college credit.
Graduation policy: The committee adopted editing to IKF to implement a short‑term competency determination for the class of 2025 consistent with state guidance: students who have not previously received a diploma but who meet the district's outlined course‑based competency determination (the specified coursework in the program of studies that matches MCAS‑tested content) may be eligible for a diploma. Committee members left a larger policy discussion about MCAS participation versus passing for classes 2026 onward to a later meeting and asked the administration to return with recommendations.
Why it matters: The changes formalize course and curricular updates and provide immediate clarity to seniors affected by recent state guidance on MCAS-based graduation requirements. Committee members highlighted additions intended to expand student leadership and career‑linked learning (yearbook editors, capstone applied learning) and supported a reworded Learning Center description to emphasize student independence.
Votes and follow‑up: Both the program of studies updates and the IKF amendment passed on roll call votes. Committee members asked principals and department heads to provide brief follow‑up notes on which course proposals are currently running and to confirm how new offerings (for example, children's literature partnerships with Blanche Ames and ARO) will be scheduled.
Ending: The committee approved the program changes and the graduation‑policy edits after a short discussion. Members asked staff to continue the policy conversation for the class of 2026 and beyond and to circulate more detailed course enrollment data for the record.
