New Competency Determination Requirement Beginning with the Class of 2010
| To: | Superintendents, High School Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Approved Private Special Education Schools, and Educational Collaboratives |
| From: | David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education |
| Date: | December 18, 2006 |
At its October 24, 2006 meeting, the Board of Education voted to amend the regulation on the Competency Determination (603 CMR 30.0). The amendment changed the criteria for earning a Competency Determination by requiring that students, beginning with the class of 2010, either meet or exceed a scaled score of 240 on both grade 10 MCAS English language arts and Mathematics tests, or meet or exceed a scaled score of 220 on both tests and fulfill the requirements of an Educational Proficiency Plan. The amendment also adds Science and Technology/Engineering to the Competency Determination standard by requiring students to earn a scaled score of at least 220 on one of the high schools tests in Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering. The addition of Science and Technology/Engineering to the Competency Determination standard will also begin with the class of 2010. The intent of these changes is to increase the likelihood that graduates of Massachusetts high schools have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college or today's workforce that requires many of the same skills as college entrants. Since the Board amended the regulation, there have been reports in the media that may have led some to believe that the new passing standard is 240. While it is true that a student can meet the Competency Determination standard by scoring 240 or higher on both grade 10 ELA and Mathematics tests, students may also meet the standard by scoring 220-238, if they complete an Educational Proficiency Plan. To avoid any further confusion about this matter, I urge you to use the following language when conveying this new policy to students, parents, and school staff. Beginning with the class of 2010: - Students will be required to meet or exceed a scaled score of 240 on both the Grade 10 English language arts and mathematics MCAS exams; or
- Students will be required to meet or exceed a scaled score of 220 on both the Grade 10 English language arts and mathematics MCAS exams and fulfill the requirements of an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP); the EPP shall be developed for the subject matter area(s) in which students did not meet or exceed a scaled score of 240.
Each Educational Proficiency Plan will include, at a minimum: - a review of the student's strengths and weaknesses, based on MCAS and other assessment results, coursework, grades, and teacher input;
- the courses the student will be required to take and successfully complete in grades 11 and 12; and
- a description of the assessments the school will administer on a regular basis to determine if the student is moving toward proficiency.
In the coming months, the Department will provide additional guidance on the Educational Proficiency Plan. If you have questions about new Competency Determination requirements or the redesigned Certificate of Mastery, please contact Peg Helgaard at 781-338-3524 / mhelgaard@doe.mass.edu.
Last Updated: December 18, 2006
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