In the wake of the commonwealth’s vote last year to remove the MCAS test as a graduation requirement, school districts have been grappling with whether to keep it as an educational tool and how it should be used if it is retained.
“We’ve always had high graduation requirements at W-H,” Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak said during the Wednesday, Jan. 15 School Committee meeting.
Vice Chair Hillary Kniffen noted that the change is a shift to the Committee’s requirements, asked what graduation requirements have been set.
The Committee unanimously voted to accept changes to the district’s high school graduation requirements, after a lengthy discussion on the implication of the changes toward graduation requirements.
High School Principal Dr. Christopher Jones presented this year’s changes to the program of study to the School Committee.
The main changes concern a change of language due to graduation requirements following the ballot question removing it as a graduation requirement last November.
Jones said language changes are usually done merely for updating, accuracy and clarity; two new course additions – Teen Literature II and Physics: Electricity and Waves, or Magnetism – accessible via graphic. Course adjustments to keep courses fresh and provide students with different opportunities and options, are also included in the program of study.
The updated graduation policy changes from requiring the MCAS test to just mentioning “successfully passed all requirements set forth by the WHRSD School Committee, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Department of Education.”
A schedule change to eight different blocks of class time, also means students are now required to take minimum of seven classes, instead of six – with a total of 98 credits instead of 90 to graduate, beginning with the Class of 2028 with certain number in certain classes – beginning with the Class of 2026.
“Students have to have a certain number of credits to graduate, and a certain number of those credits have to be in certain courses,” Jones said. “We haven’t adjusted the number courses that they need, or specific courses that they need, so we put those into electives. That doesn’t mean that they have to be a half-year course. It could be a full-year course – it really opens up options for students to explore more of what they would like to explore when they’re in high school.”
Jones said it is a requirement that is easily attainable by the time they’ve completed their four years of high school.
“Now that the MCAS is off the table, and – DESE – we’re still waiting for guidance, and maybe we’ll get it this year, probably not,” she said. “But, by the time we get it, it’ll be too late for this current class. Right? So, what is our role here?”
She said, if the language in the program of study refers to requirements set by the School Committee, “then that means we, as a School Committee, have to have a conversation about adopting MassCORE or looking at the MassCORE framework.” She noted that MassCORE is what most state universities look at, as well.
“Is that a future topic?” Kniffen asked.
Szymaniak said if the district aligns with MassCORE, which requires the increase to 98 credits, but it is a modified version, or a future topic to be discussed.
“It could be both,” Szymaniak said. “We use MassCORE, [which is why the credit total is being changed]. It’s modified MassCORE. A student in science could take biology, could take physics, and then, potentially, could take two other courses to fulfill that requirement.”
Glen DiGravio asked for confirmation that the local School Committee is subordinate to the other two, referring to DESE at the state level and the U.S, Department of Education.
“We couldn’t supersede them?” DiGravio asked.
“Yes, you could,” Szymaniak replied. “Right now, there is nothing from the Commonwealth of Mass. … Certain School Committees now, still require MCAS.”
“We could do that?” Digravio asked.
“You could,” Szymaniak said. “If you do, you’re opening up for a lawsuit from voters, saying you’re not supporting the vote of the Commonwealth.”
The vote in 2024 reset the law and abolishes the MCAS tests.
The MCAS vote is now law, “but the phrase “local requirements” have also to be factored in, Szymaniak explained.
There is no competency determination in the Commonwealth,” said Szymaniak. “The state only gave us MCAS, which is a competency, not a graduation requirement in the Commonwealth, however, a number of our students still have to take MCAS because it’s a federal assessment, for attendance – not necessarily schoolwork.
“This is where the state is doing the push-pull right now,” Szymaniak said. “The School Committee has always approved graduation requirements and the state said, ‘For a state diploma, because of the law, you need the competency determination for MCAS.’ That is now off the table, so the School Committee could do multiple things.”
W-H has always had high graduation requirements, according to the superintendent.
Kniffen noted that the district requires two units of foreign language, adding that it is important for the School Committee members to know how many courses and credits students are supposed to take at W-H.
“Currently, we don’t have foreign language at our middle schools,” she said. “If you take a foreign language in middle school, and you take it in seventh and eighth grade, that can set you up to go more than just your first two units [in high school]. I’m just saying that there are more budgetary implications to – now that we don’t have MCAS – making sure that the students have access to these things in that way.”
Member Dawn Byers argued that, when they approve the program of studies changes, they are, essentially, setting graduation policy. But, when the high school advocates for no mid-term and final exams in order to give more in-class time on learning, but when the committee supported Jones in that, MCAS was still a measure of competency and a tool.
“Now, our students are not experiencing the learning process to learn, [and prepare] for a midterm or final exam or an MCAS,” she said, adding that she has heard feedback from some students that the situation is problematic for them.
She also noted that AP Spanish is being removed because it doesn’t qualify for W-H students. Robotics is not offered until junior year.
Jones countered that AP Spanish has not been removed [but] the way it’s worded is a little tricky.
“It’s being taken out that we’re not offering it,” he said. “So, we’re taking that back, because it was put in the program of study last year that it was not going to be offered … it will be offered,” he said. “Now, whether it runs or not depends on how many students can qualify or apply for it or to enter into it.” He said the number is very low right now. “If I were a betting person, I don’t think it will run next year,” Jones said.