Competency determination proposal aims to ‘keep the standards high’

School officials Monday night pitched their competency determination policy as an opportunity to be as inclusive as possible while ensuring a Weston High School diploma still represents an elite education.

During the last two months, James “Kimo” Carter, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, worked with district department heads and administrators to develop the policy, now required by the state after voters repealed the requirement that students must pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to graduate from high school.

The competency determination represents two accomplishments for students: course completion and assessment of their mastery of course content.

Under the policy, students will be required to complete ninth and 10th grade English, algebra, a lab science or engineering course, and, beginning with the class of 2027, a U.S. history course.

The content-mastery aspect is a three-tiered process that Carter said is inclusive of students of all abilities and backgrounds, but still maintains Weston’s high expectations.

“We’re trying to keep the standards high; keep the standards where they need to be … And give as many students as many options and pathways as possible, so they can demonstrate they’ve met this standard,” Carter said. “Mastery of content can happen through a lot of different kinds of assessments.”

The first tier, which is expected to be met by most students, is passing the course and its final exam or equivalent summative assessment.

If students do not meet the first tier requirement, they may take a district competency assessment designed to meet the state’s educational frameworks. Carter said these exams will be “very similar to what the MCAS looks like” and will score students as meeting, not meeting or partially meeting competency requirements.

Tier three will allow students to either retake the district assessment at a later date or submit a portfolio of evidence determined for each student by the district’s new competency determination panel.

Carter said this system is designed to be as “inclusive as we can,” while keeping standards high “so the diploma means something.” Under this policy, students with disabilities will receive appropriate testing accommodations and may be able to complete different courses to meet the competency standards. English learners will also receive appropriate testing accommodations, he said.

School Committee member Jane Li said she supported the proposal, as it provides several opportunities for students to show their mastery of content, and keeps “the standards here at Weston high, but achievable.”

“As a School Committee member, and also as a parent, I actually feel very proud of the inclusiveness in this document,” Li said. “I truly believe that this is a much better competency determinator than the MCAS.”

The School Committee will vote on the policy at its Nov. 17 meeting. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education set a Dec. 31 deadline for districts to approve a policy and submit it for review.