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HANOVER — The Hanover School Committee reviewed a proposed policy Oct. 8 that would replace MCAS testing with course-based requirements for graduation, following the state’s decision to end MCAS as a graduation mandate.
Director of Curriculum Matthew Plummer presented the Competency Determination policy during the committee’s meeting, explaining that students would now demonstrate proficiency by passing specific core courses instead of taking state exams.
“This is a new requirement of DESE [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education],” Plummer said. “They are requiring districts to have a formal policy for competency determination.”
Under the proposed system, Hanover students must successfully complete English 9 and 10, Algebra and Geometry, and one science course such as Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. For the class of 2027, U.S. History would also become a required course.
Plummer said the changes align with the intent of the former MCAS standards.
“MCAS was based on doing well in those courses and so our policy is you have to pass those courses,” he said. “It’s very straightforward.”
Plummer explained that students who do not pass a required class would receive extra support through educational proficiency plans (EPP), similar to those once used for students who failed MCAS. “Any student that didn’t pass the MCAS on their first go around, we initiated what we call an EPP,” he said. “We would do the same thing now if the student doesn’t pass English 9, English 10, or Algebra 1.”
The proposed policy also includes an appeals process and allows former Hanover students who completed all required coursework but did not pass MCAS to request their diplomas.
Assistant Superintendent Deborah St. Ives said the approach maintains rigorous standards while keeping the focus on student support.
“We’re trying to be as thoughtful, logical, and student-centered as possible in our decision and work as smartly as we possibly can,” St. Ives said. “A competency determination doesn’t have to be difficult. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”
She said the plan ensures all students have the opportunity to meet graduation requirements through regular communication and intervention.
“If you’re doing your job as an educational institution, that should never prevent somebody from graduating in their senior year,” she said. “You should be on top of that. You should have communicated that and you should have provided supports.”
Superintendent Matthew Ferron noted that statewide standards may eventually follow.
“The state is actually working on statewide requirements that every district is going to have to follow,” Ferron said. “There will probably be some things we will need to adjust or modify in our policy, but that’s probably a little ways down the road.”
School Committee members expressed support for the clear, course-based approach. Member Libby Corbo said she appreciated that the plan avoids unnecessary complexity.
“It’s very simple, easy to follow,” Corbo said. “It trusts our teachers who know our students best.”
The policy was introduced for its first reading and will return to the committee for a vote at a future meeting.