The Salem School Committee voted unanimously at a Dec. 22 special meeting to adopt a local high-school competency determination policy and to approve programs of study for the 2026–27 school year for the district’s three high schools.

Deputy Superintendent Kate told the committee the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provided guidance used to craft the policy and that the district must submit the locally adopted competency determination to the state by Dec. 31. “We did receive guidance from DESE to follow in developing the policy,” Kate said; the deadline for submission was reiterated during the discussion.

Under the adopted policy, students must meet two components to satisfy the competency determination: demonstrate mastery of coursework in English language arts, mathematics, science (and, for the graduating class of 2027, U.S. history) and satisfactorily complete required coursework. All three high schools elected to use a final exam as the determining measure for mastery in selected courses. The policy also outlines practices to support students with disabilities, students who enroll after ninth grade and an appeals process.

Member Campbell moved to approve the competency determination policy and to suspend the three-reading rule so the committee could make a final adoption; Member Cornell seconded. The chair announced the motion carried, recorded as 6–0.

Committee members also reviewed programs of study that principals presented at the curriculum subcommittee and in packet materials. Deputy Superintendent Kate said Salem Prep submitted a program of study for the first time and New Liberty submitted its second-year program. Member Campbell moved to approve the programs of study for the 2026–27 school year; Member Cornell seconded and the motion carried 6–0.

The committee did not record roll-call vote details in the transcript beyond the 6–0 tallies announced by the chair. The meeting adjourned after the votes.