Competency Determination and High School Graduation Requirements

Students must earn 22 credits in specific subjects and demonstrate mastery in core fields via coursework and assessments to receive a Brookline High School diploma.

I 1 f. High School Graduation Requirements (Voted 11/17/86, #86--536; 2/26/91, #91-52; 4/26/01, #1-40; 12/18/25, #25-165) The mission of Brookline High School is to develop capable, confident, life-long learners who contribute to their community, participate thoughtfully in democracy, and succeed in a diverse and evolving global society. In order to graduate from Brookline High, students must satisfy the Graduation Requirements described below. Students must also must meet the Competency Determination requirements found in Section I 1 g of the PSB Policy Manual. Minimum Course Requirements (22 total credits, including the following 19 required credits) English: (4 credits) * four years (some students will achieve some of these credits by studying English as a Second Language) Foreign Language: two years in one language (2 credits) Mathematics: (3 credits) three years Science: (3 credits) three years Social Studies: (3 credits) three years (World History I and II, US History*) Career and Technology three years distributed across at least three of Education, Community these program areas Service, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts: (3 credits) Health and Fitness: Health and Fitness must be taken each year (1 credit) * The Achievement of the Technology Competencies, as defined by the BHS Technology Oversight Committee and approved by the School Committee. * These course requirements are mandated by the State and cannot be modified. Exceptions: We have a responsibility to provide for every student a challenging program which must reflect the particular strengths and weaknesses of the student. Alternative programs and/or some modification of the Graduation Requirements should be available. The alternatives below offer reasonable flexibility to satisfy Graduation Requirements and enable all students to experience academic _______POLICY MANUAL OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BROOKLINE______ success. In appropriate circumstances, the student’s administrator may recommend a modification to the Graduation Requirements for approval by the Head of School and Superintendent of Schools. 1. A “pathway” of three progressively advanced credits in either Performing Arts, Visual Arts, or Career and Technology Education may substitute for: a) the distribution requirement in electives or b) two credits in Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, except that only one credit may be substituted in any of the four disciplines cited above. 2. Students enrolled in Learning Skills may substitute two Learning Skills credit for two credits in Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, except that only one credit may be substituted in any of the four disciplines cited above. This exception may not be combined with 1 (b). However, students in Learning Skills are eligible for the “pathway” exception in 1 (a). 3. A “Waiver of Graduation Requirements” may also be recommended, in writing, by the Head of School for approval by the Superintendent of Schools. A waiver may be recommended for students who, because of extraordinary circumstances, have not satisfied all of the Graduation Requirements but, in the considered view of the Head of School, have achieved the learning expectations of The High School. These Graduation Requirements become effective for the class entering Brookline High in September, 2001, and graduating in June, 2005. _______POLICY MANUAL OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BROOKLINE______ I 1 g. Competency Determination (New Policy) (Voted 12/18/25, #25-165) Replaced MCAS Related Graduation Document Policy (5/22/03, #03-61) COMPETENCY DETERMINATION One of the requirements for graduation in Massachusetts is a determination of competency in subjects previously covered by the MCAS. In addition to other requirements for graduation, students must have been determined by the district to have achieved mastery of the common core of skills, competency, and knowledge in said areas, and satisfactorily have completed coursework that has been certified by the student's district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks. Competency Determination Requirements A determination of competency shall include: Demonstrating mastery of skills in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science; and the satisfactory completion of relevant coursework aligned to the standards measured by the high school English language arts, mathematics, and science MCAS assessments administered in 2023. An additional requirement for mastery in US History will apply to the graduating class of 2027, and beyond. Per guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), to show mastery, a student must successfully complete, in accordance with the district’s grading policy or by any other appropriate methodology as may be determined by the School Committee: 1. The final assessment for a course; or 2. A capstone or portfolio project; or 3. An equivalent measure identified in the district’s CD policy. A student enrolled in the Public Schools of Brookline will be determined to have satisfactorily completed coursework and earned full credit in accordance with the district’s grading policy and the requirements outlined below: Content Area Coursework Requirements Notes English The equivalent of two years of high school To satisfy this course requirement, the Language Arts English language arts courses. English Language Arts courses must be taken in grades 9-12. Mathematics The equivalent of one year of both Algebra Middle school math courses may be I and Geometry courses, or the equivalent certified by the district as meeting the of one year of both Integrated Math I and coursework requirement for the Integrated Math II. Whether to follow an mathematics component of the CD. Algebra/Geometry or Integrated Math I/II Districts must confirm that the course course sequence is determined by the aligns to the high school Algebra district, but the equivalent length of the I/Geometry/Integrated Math I/Integrated courses must still be met. Math II standards as listed in the 2017 _______POLICY MANUAL OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BROOKLINE______ Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework. Science The equivalent of one year of any one of To satisfy this course requirement, the the following disciplines: Biology, Physics, science course must be taken in grades 9- Chemistry, or Technology/Engineering. 12. U.S. History The equivalent of a one-year United States To satisfy this course requirement, the (Beginning history course. U.S. History course must be taken in with the grades 9-12. graduating class of 2027) Aligned Courses: The Public Schools of Brookline offers courses in alignment with the state curriculum frameworks that meet the above requirements. Specific BHS Courses that meet these requirements are tagged in the Annual Course Catalog with the symbol ✭. Demonstration of Mastery: A student will show mastery in