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Easton School Committee outlines new competency determination and graduation rules after DESE guidance
Summary
Principal Kavanaugh and district leaders explained how DESE’s post‑MCAS guidance will require students to both pass coursework and demonstrate mastery via a final assessment, capstone or portfolio; committee discussed appeals, accommodations, communications to families and a Dec. 31 DESE submission deadline.
Principal Kavanaugh presented proposed policy language to align Easton Public Schools with new Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidance on competency determination and graduation requirements.
Under the state guidance, which followed the removal of MCAS as the state’s graduation competency test, students must (1) pass the relevant course and (2) demonstrate mastery of the course standards through a final assessment, capstone project or portfolio. Kavanaugh said the change effectively replaces MCAS as the single assessment showing competency and adds US history for the class of 2027 as a required content area.
Kavanaugh described subject‑specific pathways: English and science offer multiple routes for students to demonstrate competency, while math is narrower and generally limited to Algebra I, Geometry and certain program‑of‑studies courses. For students who pass a course but do not meet the mastery threshold, the district proposes a portfolio review of unit and summative work and an opportunity to retake assessments or supplement with additional evidence until a 60% mastery threshold is met for inclusion in the portfolio review.
Committee members pressed for clarity on transfer and out‑placed students, accommodations for medically fragile students and whether AP exams or capstone projects would substitute for a course final. Kavanaugh said the policy includes provisions for late‑enrolling students to use transcript review and, in rare cases without transcripts, to use historic MCAS scores. Students placed out of district must meet the competency determination of the placing district; appeals and individualized accommodations remain available.
Members asked about family communication, especially for eighth‑grade students taking Algebra I whose results could affect future competency options. Kavanaugh said the district will send targeted letters and post slide decks and recordings; she also committed to outreach to families of students who do not meet competency early in high school.
The committee discussed logistics and timing: DESE asked districts to submit local policy language by Dec. 31, and administrators intend to return for second readings and votes at upcoming policy meetings. Kavanaugh said MCAS participation will still be required in the initial administration (not retakes) for accountability and scholarship purposes, and the district will continue to encourage participation to preserve data continuity used for instructional planning.
The committee did not take a final vote on the policy at this meeting; members asked for final policy language and communications plans before the second reading.
