The school policy subcommittee met to address a looming December 31 deadline from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regarding high school competency determination. With MCAS no longer serving as the sole state requirement, the district must establish a formal policy defining mastery in core subjects. A staff guest named Robin explained that the current draft aligns with state frameworks for English, Math, and Science, adding that by 2027 MCCAST was going to say US history as well. Chair Sean Costello advocated for streamlined policy language to allow for future state adjustments, asking, do we want to just stick with the MAS language and leave this out? in reference to highly specific scoring details that could become obsolete.

The discussion turned to the logistical challenges of state mandates that allow former students as far back as the class of 2003 to seek diplomas if they previously failed to meet competency requirements. Vice Chair Lara Brait voiced concerns regarding the difficulty of locating these individuals, asking, who do we know who to reach out to if people have moved? Like where do we even have these records at this point? Meanwhile, Member Lauren Dargan sought clarification on the costs associated with vocational school tours, noting that transportation is covered by the post school because I think that'll be a question for local families. Superintendent Patrick Sullivan emphasized the need for a flexible policy, stating, And there's going to be I think there's going to be lots of changes, right?

The committee also reviewed a new "Middle School Pathways" policy, which mandates how the district shares student information with vocational and agricultural schools. A staff guest named Patty noted the district is developing a six or eight guidance curriculum to meet state objectives for career exploration, potentially utilizing the MyCAP platform. Member Richard Greer questioned the transparency of external admissions, asking, Are you providing all of that documentation prior to them making a decision on the applicant? I thought it was a true lottery. Member Kendra Stetson raised a point regarding local requirements, asking, The only question I had was um the community service being included in the competency. The subcommittee agreed to present a simplified version of both policies to the full committee to ensure compliance while maintaining local control over specific graduation procedures.