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Committee hears DESE interim graduation recommendations and approves local policy updates
Summary
Superintendent Amy McKinstry briefed the committee on DESE’s interim report recommending seven graduation components (end-of-course assessments, capstones/portfolios, myCAP expansion, FAFSA/MASFA completion options, optional seals). The committee voted to revise local policies IKL and IKF to align with state work while awaiting final guidance.
Superintendent Amy McKinstry briefed the School Committee on an interim report from the governor’s graduation council that recommends seven components for graduation requirements, including end-of-course assessments, a capstone or portfolio, expansion of myCAP, completion (or opt-out) of FAFSA/MASFA, financial literacy coursework, and optional seals of distinction for pathway achievement. McKinstry cautioned that districts are not required to act yet: “Right now, we don’t have to… do anything with the information yet,” she said, adding that the recommendations could change as the work continues.
The superintendent said the recommendations largely align with practices Northbridge already follows — including MassCore alignment and a local financial literacy requirement — but raised concerns about flexibility and logistics for students on non‑college pathways. Committee member (S8) criticized parts of the report’s approach, saying he found it “funny that… the state of Massachusetts voted to get rid of MCAS, and one of their first solutions is to reimplement a MCAS standardized test.” McKinstry and other superintendents present said they had raised similar questions about flexibility, the role of end-of-course assessments and the potential burden of requiring FAFSA completion for all students.
In response to the report, the committee voted on two related local policies. The committee approved revisions to policy IKL (graduation requirements) after a motion and second; the chair announced the motion carried. The committee also approved policy IKF (competency determination) by roll call. Both votes passed without recorded dissent.
Why it matters: The DESE interim recommendations would, if implemented in final form, change how districts document student readiness and could introduce new statewide assessments and portfolio/capstone requirements. Local policy revisions position Northbridge to respond to anticipated state changes while the district seeks clarification from DESE and legal counsel.
Next steps: McKinstry said district leaders will continue to provide feedback to DESE, meet with the commissioner and MASS legal counsel for guidance, and return updates to the committee as the state work progresses. The committee did not set implementation deadlines at the meeting.
