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Longmeadow panel holds first reading of new competency-determination policy; learning team proposed
Summary
The school committee received the first reading of draft policy IKFE to define a locally determined competency determination required by the state; administration proposed a stakeholder learning team and a timeline for second reading on Dec. 1 and final approval Dec. 15.
Longmeadow School Committee heard the first reading of draft policy IKFE on Nov. 18, a locally defined competency determination (CD) the district must adopt after the state removed MCAS as the default path for the CD.
Administrators, led by Dr. Nelson and joined by Longmeadow High School Principal Tom Landers, said the state (DESE) requires a minimum set of course experiences for a CD: two years of high-school English, an algebra 1 and geometry sequence (or integrated math equivalents), one year of science (biology, chemistry, physics or an applied STEM course), and — beginning with the class of 2027 — one year of U.S. history. “Earning the competency determination does not mean you will earn a high school diploma from Longmeadow High School,” Dr. Nelson said, emphasizing that district graduation requirements remain more rigorous.
The administration proposed forming a learning team in the second half of the academic year composed of students, parents, staff, administrators and interested school committee members to review best practices and make directional recommendations by the end of the school year. The presentation noted that any more ambitious changes would require substantial curriculum, professional development and implementation time; administration suggested possible implementation for a cohort entering in September 2027.
Committee members asked how the CD would interact with existing graduation requirements and what would happen to a student who met the CD but not the diploma requirements; Dr. Nelson said the district would work with such students (summer school, fall remediation or tailored supports) and expects most students to earn the CD by the end of their sophomore year. The presenters also noted the timeline for committee action: second reading on Dec. 1 and a final vote on Dec. 15 to meet the state deadline for adopting a locally defined CD.
The committee did not take action that evening; the item was recorded as a first reading and will return for further committee discussion and formal votes in December.
