Woburn School Committee approves updates to Program of Studies, adds required personal finance course and dual-enrollment options
Summary
The committee approved updates to the Program of Studies that add a state‑driven personal financial literacy requirement for juniors, new elective courses, and expanded dual‑enrollment offerings with UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College; handbook and graduation‑requirement policy changes will proceed through subcommittees.
The Woburn School Committee on Jan. 28 approved revisions to the district’s Program of Studies that add new courses, clarify credit‑recovery options and prepare the district for an anticipated state requirement that juniors complete a personal financial literacy course.
Superintendent Dr. Crowley turned the presentation over to curriculum staff and Principal Mr. Quayle, who said the changes include handbook cleanup, a clearer explanation of weighted GPA and class rank, and updated credit‑recovery language to help students remain with their grade band. “We’re adding more without having to hire more and costing us any money,” Mr. Quayle said, describing new course offerings that rely on existing staff and partnerships.
Why it matters: the packet aligns the district with MassCore guidance and anticipates a statewide graduation requirement for personal financial literacy that will affect the class of 2028. The committee was told the course would likely be a semester, every‑other‑day class for juniors and could be satisfied by taking AP Business and Personal Finance or a year‑long personal finance option.
Key details: the presenters described promotion‑policy adjustments so students may advance while being up to two classes (about 10 credits) behind, provided they meet minimum English and math credits and use credit‑recovery options. The Program of Studies also eliminates low‑enrollment classes (intro to drums and percussion; foods and nutrition; computer applications) and adds new offerings including leadership through wellness, advanced physical education, AP Business and Personal Finance, several UMass Lowell dual‑enrollment courses and a Project Lead The Way aerospace engineering rotation in science.
Dual enrollment and funding: administrators said the district’s dual‑enrollment partnerships with UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College let students earn college credit in high school. Presenters stated grant funding and early‑college designations support the tuition costs for those credits and that students could accumulate as many as 25 college credits through the program if they maintain required grades.
Committee reaction and safeguards: members asked how the reduced promotion thresholds would protect students’ long‑term success. Curriculum staff said guidance counselors will implement structured check‑ins and tracking systems to ensure students receive support and credit‑recovery opportunities. Officials also said existing open educational resources and embedded math curriculum work reduce the need to purchase new materials.
Outcome and next steps: The committee voted to approve the Program of Studies language updates, the new course additions and the removal of low‑enrollment courses. The handbook and any formal graduation‑requirement changes tied to state policy will proceed through the policy subcommittee for further review.
