The Westford School Committee on Dec. 15 voted to approve the 2026–27 Westford Academy Program of Studies following a presentation by Principal Dan Toomey and Lauren Clark, head of guidance and counseling.

The 105-page document, now published in Google format for translation, outlines the high school course catalog, graduation requirements, competency-determination components and the scheduling timeline for roughly 1,500 students. "It's a 105-page document," Clark said in overview, adding that the guide is intended to be an academic roadmap that clearly defines competency determination, graduation requirements and course-sequence charts.

Why it matters: the Program of Studies governs students’ course choices, the prerequisites and the scheduling process that produce the master schedule each spring. Committee members pressed for clarity about capacity, equity and supports for students who pursue Advanced Placement (AP) exams through self study rather than taking the AP course.

Key changes in the guide include:
- A formalized AP self‑study application and approval process for juniors and seniors, with external proctors hired for exam administration; Clark said applications will be collected via Google Form and applicants will be notified in mid‑October.
- New course-sequence charts and a single, uniform set of course-level guidelines (including anticipated homework) to help students and families compare rigor across departments.
- Revised numeric prerequisites and an explicit override process: some entry thresholds were lowered (examples cited by presenters included changes such as a 93 threshold in one case reduced to 88); there is a 5-point override window and clearer rules for teacher recommendation overrides.
- New and revised course offerings listed as proposals subject to sufficient student interest, including expanded guitar and piano continuations, a semester-based movie‑making course, AP macroeconomics, AP Mandarin (if numbers support running the course), senior seminar options and a new freshman health-and-wellness management course that integrates PE requirements.
- Expanded dual-enrollment opportunities in partnership with Middlesex Community College, with Westford Academy teachers delivering approved syllabi and students paying a small tuition fee.

On AP self study, Clark said the district has seen a meaningful rise in students seeking to take AP exams without the accompanying AP course—"from about 18 exams two years ago to 79 exams"—and has therefore created a protocol to manage space, proctors and fairness (a lottery will be used when an exam is oversubscribed). She told the committee that self-study students prepare outside the school day and that Clark and counselors will hold individual planning conversations to review time management and transcript implications.

Committee members asked whether there is reliable data comparing test outcomes for self‑study versus course‑taught students; Clark said the results vary by exam and that the district's AP coordinator provided inconsistent patterns, so no firm conclusion could be drawn.

The committee moved and approved the Program of Studies by voice vote. Chair said the handbook‑like approval is typical practice and that the committee may revisit particular items such as weighted vs. unweighted GPA in the coming months.

What’s next: staff said the committee will formally vote as needed on implementation items tied to the handbook and will continue collecting stakeholder feedback, including a planned January engagement for families (date TBD).