COMPETENCY DETERMINATION
In December 2024 state legislation passed that removed MCAS as a requirement for earning a high school diploma in Massachusetts. Under this new law, all school districts must develop a local Competency Determination (CD) that certifies students have successfully completed required coursework and demonstrated mastery of the academic standards and competencies previously assessed on MCAS.
GNBVT has adopted a local CD policy that aligns with our existing graduation requirements and reflects the strong academic expectations already in place for all students. The full policy is linked below for your reference.
What This Means for Students
We want every family to feel confident that students will be fully supported in meeting these expectations:
- Successfully complete required coursework in English, Mathematics, Science, and—beginning with the Class of 2027—U.S. History.
- Earn a minimum passing grade of 65% in these courses.
- Demonstrate mastery on final assessments in these courses with a minimum score of 65%.
Support for Students
We want every family to feel confident that students will be fully supported in meeting these expectations:
- Summer school will be available for students who did not earn the minimum passing grade in the course.
- Opportunities to improve final exam grades will be provided if a student does not initially earn a minimum passing score of 65%.
- Flexible pathways and district-level appeals are available for students who enroll late or who have limited records.
- Students with disabilities and English Learners will continue to receive all required accommodations and supports.
These structures ensure that every student has multiple opportunities to succeed and that no student’s path to graduation is derailed by a single measure.
Our Commitment
Please know that our commitment remains the same: providing rigorous learning experiences along with the support students need to meet graduation expectations with confidence. Our teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff are here to support our students every step of the way.