Education Laws and Regulations

603 CMR 30.00:

Standards for Competency Determination and Local Graduation Requirements

Section:


Most Recently Amended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: May 20, 2025

30.03: Standards for Competency Determination

(1) Beginning with the graduating class of 2026, a student will earn the Competency Determination where:

  1. The student has shown mastery of a common core of skills, competencies and knowledge in English language arts, mathematics, and science; and

  2. The student has satisfactorily completed coursework that has been certified by the student's district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the Massachusetts academic standards and curriculum frameworks in English language arts, mathematics, and science as measured by the MCAS high school assessments administered in 2023. In this regard, the student must satisfy the following:

    1. (1) For English language arts, the student must satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of two years of high school English language arts courses.

    2. (2) For mathematics, the student must: (i) satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of one year of both Algebra I and Geometry; or (ii) satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of one year of both Integrated Math I and Integrated Math II.

    3. (3) For science, the student must: (i) satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of one year of Biology; or (ii) satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of one year of Physics; or (iii) satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of one year of Chemistry; or (iv) satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of one year of a Technology or Engineering course.

  3. In the limited circumstance where a district is unable to document a student's prior coursework, a student may earn the Competency Determination by: (i) attaining a qualifying score of at least "Meeting Expectations" or "Exceeding Expectations" achievement levels on the relevant high school MCAS assessment; or (ii) meeting the standard for a substituted equivalent that the district certifies satisfies the same academic standards.

(2) Beginning with the graduating class of 2027, a student will earn the Competency Determination where:

  1. The student has met the requirements in 603 CMR 30.03 (1);
  2. The student has shown mastery of a common core of skills, competencies and knowledge in United States history; and
  3. The student has satisfactorily completed coursework that has been certified by the student's district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the Massachusetts academic standards and curriculum framework in United States history. In this regard, the student must satisfactorily complete coursework in the equivalent of a one-year United States history course.

(3) Students who have met the competency determination standard in English language arts, mathematics or science prior to January 3, 2025, retain that benefit.

Regulatory Authority:
603 CMR 30.00: M.G.L. c. 69, §§ 1B and 1D; St. 2003, c.140, §119.

Disclaimer:
For an official copy of these regulations, please contact the State House Bookstore, at 617-727-2834 or visit Massachusetts State Bookstore .

Last Updated: June 13, 2025

Top