The Dennis‑Yarmouth Regional School Committee voted on Dec. 1 to adopt an amended graduation policy (IKF) and to add a separate competency‑determination policy (IKFE) that reflects new Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidance.

Policy subcommittee members told the committee the changes were necessary to meet DESE filing deadlines; the committee waived the usual two‑reading requirement under policy BGB to allow staff to file the documents. The separate IKFE document formalizes what the subcommittee described as DESE’s longer guidance and adds an appeals process for competency determinations.

“I’m asking or requesting a motion to waive the BGB policy under emergency conditions,” the policy subcommittee lead said before the committee moved and seconded the waiver and approved it by roll call. The committee then considered IKF as amended and moved to place competency determination into its own policy section.

During debate the subcommittee acknowledged a clerical error in a paragraph listing aligned courses and offered a friendly amendment. The committee also approved an additional amendment preserving the benefit for students who had already earned a competency determination (CD) in English language arts, mathematics or science prior to 2025‑01‑03 — “students who earned a CD through a regular or retest administration of the MCAS or through a DESE appeal process retain that benefit,” the amendment states.

The committee approved the combined set of amendments and the IKFE policy by roll‑call vote. Superintendent Dr. Smith thanked the committee for acting quickly so staff could complete required filings and notify families because the changes affect the graduating class of 2026.

Next steps: staff will file the adopted policies with DESE and notify families and schools about the amended graduation requirements and the competency‑determination appeals procedure.