Natick Redhawks

Dear Natick High School Families and Caregivers,

Last November, via ballot initiative, the residents of Massachusetts voted to remove MCAS as a graduation requirement. Prior to this vote, passing the MCAS was the primary vehicle by which students attained “Competency Determination” or “CD”, the state requirement that students achieve a certain level of proficiency in English, math and science (as outlined in Massachusetts General Law, Ch. 69, Sec. 1D). As a result of the ballot initiative, passing the MCAS can no longer be used by students to attain CD; however, it is important to note that the ballot initiative did NOT change the fact that students must achieve CD to graduate.

In the absence of being able to use MCAS, this past summer, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) tasked school districts with creating their own plans for determining CD. These CD plans must align with this DESE guidance. Accordingly, Natick Public Schools has created a plan for NPS students to achieve CD, which is outlined in this new School Committee Policy. You can also view more information via this presentation to School Committee.

Below you will find a number of things:

• A basic summary of the policy

• How NHS will support students who have not yet earned CD

• An invitation to two parent sessions to learn more about CD

• A list of frequently asked questions

• A list of who you can contact if you have concerns about your NHS student(s)

We understand this is important and can feel complex. Please reach out. We look forward to working with you and your student to make a clear, supportive plan for graduation.

Sincerely,

Josepha Blocker

Principal

Natick High School

• Pass certain required courses
• Demonstrate mastery in the subject

Students in the Class of 2026 (current seniors) must achieve CD in the following 3 subject areas:

• English Language Arts (ELA)
• Math
• Science

Students in the Class of 2027 and beyond (grades 11 and below), must achieve CD in the following 4 subject areas:

• English Language Arts (ELA)
• Math
• Science
• U.S. History

This includes students who earned the following MCAS scores prior to December 2024.

• Meets Expectations or Exceeds Expectations on 10th-grade ELA MCAS exam prior to December 2024
• Meets Expectations or Exceeds Expectations on 10th-grade Math MCAS exam prior to December 2024
• Partially Meets Expectations, Meets Expectations or Exceeds Expectations on a High School Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Technology/Engineering MCAS exam before September 2024

This will largely apply to seniors who took and passed the ELA, Math and Science MCAS exams and juniors who took and passed a science MCAS in 9th grade.

1. Passing the following courses*

• ELA: Two years (four semesters) of high school English, or the equivalent
• Math: Two semesters of Algebra (Algebra 1 or Algebra 2) AND one year of Geometry, or the equivalent
• Science: One year (two semesters) of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Engineering, or the equivalent
• U.S. History (Class of 2027 onward): Pass one year (two semesters) of U.S. History, or the equivalent.

AND

2. Achieving the following mastery requirements

• ELA: Earning a passing score for the average of Term 4 and the midterm exam for each of the ELA courses listed above
• Math: Earning a passing score for the average of the midterm and the final exam for each of the required courses listed above.
• Science: Earning a passing score for the average of the midterm and the final exam for the required course listed above
• U.S. History (Class of 2027 onward): Earning a passing grade on the Semester 2 final research paper or passing an approved final exam.

* For the purposes of this plan, a passing score will be defined as 60% or higher.

If a student does not pass one of the required courses and/or does not achieve mastery through the standard pathway, Natick High School will create an individualized plan to provide additional opportunities for the student to meet CD. Some options for those individualized plans include:

• Coursework: Passing an approved online course, or engaging in a transcript review

• Mastery: An approved cumulative portfolio, passing the final assessment for an approved equivalent course, or other options as determined by the principal or his/her designee.

In special cases, including late enrollees, CD may be determined via transcript review, and in a very limited set of cases, MCAS scores can be used.

There are several opportunities to ask questions about the CD process:

• A Virtual Lunchtime Open Meeting with Vice Principal of Teaching and Learning Dr. Erica Cole Harms and Principal Josepha Blocker
• When: Wednesday, November 19th at noon
• Link: https://meet.google.com/tgv-ucdv-wgh

• ELPAC & SEPAC Joint Virtual meeting with Director of Student Services Erin Miller, Assistant Director of Multilingual Learners Joseph Santiago-Silvestri and Principal Josepha Blocker
• When: Thursday, December 4th at 6 pm
• Link: To be sent directly to ELPAC and SEPAC members

Students will all watch a pre-recorded presentation about the basics of CD in class and will then have the opportunity to ask questions of their subject-area teachers about how CD applies to that subject. Students may also make an appointment to see their guidance counselor to discuss individual concerns.

Yes.

State testing remains a federal and state state requirement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that students take the MCAS exams in ELA, math and science.

• The Natick Public Schools are still evaluated and ranked based on our students' performance on MCAS.

• Students can earn scholarships through their performance on MCAS.

• In the Class of 2026, over 99% of students have attained CD all three subject areas and have satisfied that state requirement for graduation.

• If your NHS senior has not yet attained CD, you and your student have already been notified, and have already been provided with a plan to enable your student to attain CD in the future.

• Students in grades 9 through 11 may have already attained CD in certain areas, but likely are still working towards CD in other areas. For example, all juniors are currently taking US History, so they have not yet had the opportunity to earn CD.

• Guidance counselors are currently working on the list of students in grades 9 through 11 who may be behind in the CD process, and will begin notifying students and caregivers shortly to develop a plan to attain CD prior to their graduation date.

• Students will receive all of their 504 and IEP accommodations and supports, including those applicable to coursework and CD.

• The IEP transition planning process will now include discussion of CD.

• Students in approved out‑of‑district programs will have an opportunity to earn CD in their approved placements.

• Concerned caregivers should contact their student’s IEP case manager or Special Education Administrator Taylor Thomas (jthomas@natickps.org) or their guidance counselor with questions.

• Multilingual learners will continue to get the support provided through their ESL courses and through their general education courses.

• Students who take ESL courses may satisfy ELA coursework requirements through those courses.

• Concerned students or caregivers should contact ELL Department Head Michelle Boyle (mboyle@natickps.org).or their guidance counselor with questions.

Yes.

• A student's parent or guardian may appeal an NHS CD decisions.

• To do so, submit a written appeal to NPSCDAppeals@natickps.org within 15 days of notification. The CD Review Committee will review all appeals and respond within 30 days.

• The CD Review Committee will be composed of the Director of Student Services Erin Miller, Deputy Superintendent Sue Balboni and Assistant Director of Multilingual Learners Joseph Santiago-Silvesteri.

• The CD Review Committee’s decision will be final.

Yes.

• Students who earned a Certificate of Attainment between 2003 and 2024 may request a Diploma Review in writing by emailing NPSCDAppeals@natickps.org.

• Diploma Reviews will be conducted by the CD Review Committee composed of the Director of Student Services Erin Miller, Deputy Superintendent Sue Balboni and Assistant Director of Multilingual Learners Joseph Santiago-Silvesteri.

• Decisions will be communicated within 60 school days of the request.

• All decisions will be final.

• For questions on specific students’ CD status, contact their guidance counselor.

• For general questions on the CD process, contact Vice-Principal of Teaching and Learning Dr. Erica Cole Harms (ecoleharms@natickps.org).

• For questions related to the IEP process and CD, contact a student’s IEP case manager, Special Education Administrator Taylor Thomas (jthomas@natickps.org) or Alternative Education Administrator Mark Mortarelli (mmortarelli@natickps.org).

• For questions related to multilingual learners and the CD process, contact ELL Department Head Michelle Boyle (mboyle@natickps.org).

• For questions related to the content of NHS courses, mastery assessments, and how they prepare students for CD, contact the requisite department head:

• English: Maryanne Ouellet (mouellet@natickps.org)

• Math: Jayashree Pillai (jpillai@natickps.org)

• Science: Dan Hinnenkamp (dhinnenkamp@natickps.org)

• Social Studies: Matt Brenneman (mabrenneman@natickps.org)

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.

• Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5