School committee adopts temporary IKF 2025 competency policy after MCAS change

The Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee voted to adopt a temporary competency-determination policy (referred to in the meeting as IKF 2025) to bridge a state change that removed MCAS as the district’s required competency determination.

Superintendent Jason DeFalco explained the change in state law: "The law still stands — students have to show competency by grade 10 — but we can no longer use the MCAS to do that." He described the district’s proposed bridge policy that allows determination of competency for grade-10 ELA, math and science standards by successful completion of listed district courses or, for some students, coursework portfolios.

The administration said the measure is intended to cover a small number of students in the Class of 2025 who had not yet demonstrated competency under the previous MCAS-based system; the district identified about two students affected and plans to use coursework or portfolios to preserve diploma eligibility where appropriate. The committee discussed special-education pathways and documentation to ensure families understand diploma versus certificate-of-completion pathways.

A motion to accept the IKF 2025 draft was made, seconded and approved by the committee. Members said the policy is a temporary measure for the current graduating class; the policy subcommittee will continue longer-term work on graduation requirements and may propose a phased implementation or additional revisions for future classes.

Why it matters: Although the state removed MCAS as the needed measure, the statutory requirement to show grade-10 competency remains; the district’s bridge policy aims to ensure students are not denied diplomas this year while the committee develops a longer-term approach.

Next step: The district will continue policy-subcommittee work to craft a permanent graduation-requirements policy for subsequent classes.