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Rockport committee adopts competency-determination language after state law removes MCAS as graduation requirement
Summary
Rockport administrators presented draft competency-determination language to align with recent state changes that ended MCAS as a graduation requirement; the committee voted to accept the proposed language to make local policy consistent with DESE guidance.
District administrators told the Rockport School Committee on March 5 that a recent change in state law removes the MCAS test as a direct graduation requirement and requires districts to adopt a local competency determination (CD) to confirm students meet course- and standards-based expectations.
Administrators presented draft CD language based on DESE guidance that specifies satisfactory completion of coursework demonstrating mastery in key areas (English, Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2, introductory physics and an additional lab-based science, and other required courses). The presentation clarified that MCAS remains part of federal and state accountability data and that students will still take MCAS for data and reporting purposes even though the test no longer, by itself, determines graduation eligibility.
The committee moved and seconded a motion to accept the district’s recommended competency-determination language; a voice vote followed and the motion carried ('all in favor'). Administrators said the change affects how readiness is documented locally and noted DESE has invited districts to a statewide think tank to further refine definitions of mastery and satisfactory completion. They also explained that makeups still occur for absent students, retake patterns for high school may change because retests were previously tied to graduation, and the class of 2025 is largely unaffected if students have already earned a competency determination under prior rules.
District officials said they will publish the adopted language and accompanying guidance to stakeholders in multiple languages and update the program of studies and graduation policy to reflect the district’s CD process.
