REGIONAL – While the governor’s task force decides what requirements students must pass to graduate from high school now that passing the MCAS tests are no longer the standard, Triton Regional School District has updated its own path to graduation to align with the new Competency Determination (CD) requirements – at least for students in 2025.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education last week reviewed new regulations on the CD graduation process and put them out for public comment. In the absence of approved regulations, Triton and other districts are enacting specific coursework, credits and attendance requirements as part of local graduation requirements.
The competency determination is no longer tied to a single-point-in-time standardized test, due to the passing of Question 2 last November. Rather, districts will certify students have met competency in the same high standards based on completion of coursework that meets the same standards.
“We have always had a comprehensive and rigorous graduation requirement for our students, and that will not change as we adapt our standard to meet the revised CD requirements,” said Triton superintendent Brian Forget.
Triton School Committee, which serves students from Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury, approved last month two paths for students who graduate this spring to achieve their CD.
Triton students, and most have, must have acquired 22 credits to graduate – four credits of English and math, three of lab-based sciences, which may be engineering technology, three years of history, two years of the same global language, 1.55 credits of physical education, two credits of the visual or performing arts, which may be one credit in practical arts, and a half year of financial literacy, starting in 2027.
This year, as Triton is in transition from the end of the MCAS requirement, students can earn their CD by demonstrating competency in English 9 and English 10 or the equivalent, Algebra I and Geometry or the equivalent and Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Technology, unless they passed the 10th grade MCAS prior to December 5, 2024.
Students that have transferred from out of state may request a transcript review by the Director of Guidance to show they have met the competency determination through previous coursework.
Former students, who did not meet the competency determination by passing MCAS prior to December 5, 2024 and were denied a diploma, may ask the director of guidance to review their record. If a diploma is denied, students may appeal in writing to the high school principal.
Special education students may have their graduation status reviewed with their special education team. ♦
