• Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

    Updates re: MCAS, Competency Determination, & Graduation Requirements

    Thursday, February 13, 2025

     

    Dear Shawsheen Students and Families,

    I am writing to provide you with important information regarding MCAS and Shawsheen’s updated competency determination and graduation requirements. In Massachusetts, public high school students must meet all local graduation requirements and successfully attain a competency determination (CD), to graduate and earn a high school diploma. Previously, students in Massachusetts were required to earn passing scores on the required ELA, Math, and Science MCAS assessments to attain the CD required to be eligible for a high school diploma. As a result of the November ballot question #2, this is no longer the case. Instead, each public school district in the state is required to adopt local CD requirements, in addition to local graduation requirements. It is important to note, that MCAS participation is still required by federal and state law and the ballot question did not change this requirement.

    Competency Determination Requirements

    The Shawsheen School Committee recently adopted the following local CD requirements:

    • Students, in the classes of 2025 & 2026, who have previously earned a Competency Determination (CD) through a regular or retest administration of the MCAS (including the November 2023 retest) or through a DESE appeal process, have earned their competency determination.
    • Students at Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School who have not yet earned their competency determination through previous MCAS administrations can meet the requirements for a competency determination through the following:
      • Receive a passing grade in the equivalent of a grade 10 English course.
      • Receive a passing grade in the equivalent of an Algebra 1 and Geometry course.
      • Receive a passing grade in the equivalent of a Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Science and Technology course.

    The district made the decision to approve this for the classes of 2025 and 2026, anticipating further guidance from the state in the future regarding CD requirements that may impact the classes of 2027 and beyond. The district will update local requirements accordingly once additional guidance is available.

    Graduation Requirements

    In addition to meeting local CD requirements, students must also meet all local graduation requirements to earn a high school diploma. Our local graduation requirements have changed as follows (new language is in bold):

    • To fulfill graduation requirements, a student must have successfully completed or demonstrated the following.
      • Thirty-five (35) senior credits.
      • Four (4) years of English, four (4) years of Physical Education, three (3) years of shop, three (3) years of related theory, three (3) years of Mathematics, two (2) years of Social Studies (including United States History I and II), two (2) years of Science, and a third (3rd) year of Social Studies or Science.
      • Completes MCAS testing in ELA, Mathematics, and Science/Technology/Engineering.
        • previously stated: MCAS competency in in ELA, Mathematics, and Science/Technology/Engineering.
      • Successful completion of SVTHS competency determination (CD) requirements.

    MCAS

    MCAS participation is still required by federal and state law, and Shawsheen students are still required to complete MCAS testing in ELA, Mathematics, and Science/Technology/Engineering. We are committed to preparing students to be successful on the MCAS assessments for the following reasons:

    • Student MCAS participation rates and performance outcomes will continue to play a strong role in Shawsheen’s annual accountability report from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
    • Student MCAS scores will continue to be used to determine which students are eligible for John & Abigail Adams Scholarships, which provides eligible students with scholarship money for postsecondary study.
    • Student MCAS scores will continue to be used to determine whether students can earn the Seal of Biliteracy.
    • Student MCAS scores will continue to be used by Shawsheen administration and academic departments to assess student competency in those subject areas, and to inform revisions and improvements to local curriculum, instruction, and assessments.

    For the reasons outlined above, it is essential for Shawsheen students and families to understand the importance of the requirement for Shawsheen students to complete the three MCAS assessments. As a district, we will continue to provide programming and interventions to support students to perform well on those exams. Spring 2025 MCAS testing dates are outlined below:

    • ELA: March 25-26, 2025
    • Mathematics: May 20-21, 2025
    • Science: June 4-5, 2025

     

    Sincerely,

    Jessica Cook

    (she/her)

    Principal