Family & Community Students & Families Student and Secondary Support
College and Career Readiness

Letter to Parents Concerning MassCore

Dear Parent/Guardian:

As a parent, you want your child to be able to enter college or the workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful. You also know that preparing your child to take his or her place in the world has become very challenging.

The knowledge and skills needed to enter college or find a well-paying job have changed from ten or twenty years ago. Today, high school students need similar skills whether they want to enter college or the workplace. Being unprepared can result in additional college costs for you and your child, and may discourage your child from getting the education and career she or he needs and wants.

To assist you and your child in determining how to be prepared for school and work beyond high school, the Massachusetts High School Program of Studies (MassCore) was developed. A committee comprised of secondary and postsecondary educators, high school students, guidance counselors, members of the business community, the Board of Higher Education and Department of Education staff met several times during 2006-2007 to identify a program of studies that would help a student to be college and career ready, including how many and what courses to take.

Following this, in November of 2007, the Massachusetts Board of Education established the Massachusetts High School Program of Studies (MassCore).

What is MassCore?

The Massachusetts High School Program of Studies (MassCore) is a recommended, rigorous course of study based on standards in Massachusetts's world-class curriculum frameworks that align high school coursework with college and workforce expectations.

The recommended program of studies includes: four years of English, four years of Math, three years of a lab-based Science, three years of history, two years of the same foreign language, one year of an arts program, and five additional "core courses such as business education, health, and/or technology. MassCore also includes additional learning opportunities including Advanced Placement (AP) classes, dual enrollment, a senior project, online courses for high school or college credit, and service or work-based learning.

MassCore was developed to provide guidance for a rigorous course of study that will help provide students with the academic preparation required for postsecondary education and the workplace. MassCore should be considered as a critical component of the overall high school experience and may also include work-based or community service learning, athletics, extra-curricular activities and additional learning opportunities that help develop the "whole student."

MassCore will:

• Increase students' opportunities for getting scholarships, going to college and getting better jobs, pay and career ladder promotions.
• Provide students the flexibility to select additional electives while in high school.
• Provide schools and teachers with a framework from which to develop challenging and engaging courses for all students as they progress through high school, but does not dictate how these courses are to be taught.
• Allow school districts to continue setting graduation requirements, and making all staffing and scheduling decisions, award diplomas, etc.

• Review the MassCore program of study. How does it compare to the courses your child is currently or scheduled to take. What courses are missing and why?

• Talk to your child's teachers, counselor or principal about creating a plan for taking a rigorous, college and career ready course of study.

• Have confidence that your child can achieve at high levels and encourage him or her to work hard and study.

• Have you child seek immediate assistance from teachers if she or he is struggling or falling behind.

• Explore ways you can support learning in the classroom. Remember parent involvement takes many forms; presence in the school is only one of many. Find out how to get involved through phone calls, e-mails, etc.

• Review and understand report cards and MCAS results.

If you have questions about the meaning of your child's MCAS results or school performance, we encourage you to meet with his or her teacher(s) to discuss the results and identify ways that you can partner with the school to support your child's education. Your support is extremely important in helping your child to be successful in school and in strengthening education for all Massachusetts students. If you would like more information about MassCore, please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/hsreform/masscore/. A parent's guide to the MCAS is also available at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/pgguide.html?yr=02.