As of November 2024, the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) is no longer a requirement for graduation. Last fall, the citizens of Massachusetts voted on whether or not students should be required to pass the MCAS in order to graduate from high school. The final decision was to abolish the MCAS graduation requirement, leaving schools to decide their own diploma requirements.
With the removal of the MCAS requirement, new graduation criteria have been implemented.
“The state allows us something called competency determination,” said guidance counselor Jessica Casalinova.
This requirement, based on academic standards and curriculum guidelines, evaluates sophomores in areas of mathematics, science/technology, history/social science, foreign languages, and English. The goal is to ensure student mastery of essential skills and knowledge.
“Mount Greylock uses credit and course as our competency determination,” noted Casalinova. Rather than relying on the MCAS, Mount Greylock Regional School now establishes graduation eligibility through course credit and accomplishment.
“It was a state-wide decision,,” said Casalinova, “…but it is a school-specific decision for what else to use.”
To implement the new process at Mount Greylock, principal Jacob Schutz adds the updated mandate to the program of study, then runs it through the school committee for approval.
Should students still take the MCAS even though it is not a mandated test? According to Casalinova, “[s]tudents should still take the MCAS, and they should take it seriously. It is a good reflection on our school and a good measure of success for our students.”
The MCAS helps establish course standards and curriculum levels for Mount Greylock. In addition, students’ scores on the MCAS tests can potentially earn them scholarships to most Massachusetts colleges.
