Academic Program and Policies


Competency Determination Policy


Graduation Requirements


The text from the above linked PDFs is also below and can be translated by changing the language selection available at the bottom of this page.


Parker School Competency Determination [CD] Policy


Background: Prior to 2025, students were required (by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) to earn a “passing” score on the MCAS to be eligible to earn a diploma (called Competency Determination [CD]). Beginning with the Class of 2026, MCAS is no longer the measure for earning the CD. Each school district is required to determine its own measures for Competency Determination that show evidence that [in English, math, and science] students have shown 1) mastery of skills and 2) satisfactory completion of relevant coursework aligned to DESE frameworks. Students are also required to complete at least one year of U.S. History. This document describes how the Parker School defines Competency Determination [CD] within its program.


Overview: The CD is meant to show mastery of standards at (approximately) the 10th grade level in English, math and science, as previously measured by MCAS testing. Parker’s unique academic program is already based on the concept of demonstration of mastery, so our existing Division Two program completion requirements (known locally as “Gateway Requirements”) in both Arts & Humanities (AH) and Math, Science, Technology (MST) are easily used as our CD requirements. Note that while Parker’s program is non-credit based and ungraded, in order to advance from Division Two to Division Three, students must show both portfolio-based mastery (aligned to State Frameworks) and completion of a capstone project that they publicly exhibit, as detailed below, to advance in the academic program. In addition to meeting standards in required skill areas, MST also has content proficiencies as a program requirement, which also align to State Frameworks.  In short, successful completion of Parker’s Division Two AH and Division Two MST programs, via the Gateway process, is equivalent to earning the Competency Determination [CD].

More details, as required by DESE’s policy guidelines, are described below.


English and U.S. History: Division Two Arts and Humanities (Div 2 AH)
  • Parker’s curriculum and academic program are interdisciplinary. English and U.S. History requirements for the CD (both satisfactory completion of coursework and demonstration of mastery) are fulfilled through successful completion of Division Two Arts and Humanities (Div 2 AH), as demonstrated by the Gateway (portfolio and capstone project). For most students, this is a two-year course progression (see notes for more specific course coding information).

o  Mastery:

§  Successful completion of the Div 2 AH Gateway, including the requirements below, constitutes demonstration of mastery in the coursework above.

-   Completion of a Division Two AH Gateway portfolio of meets-level work in the required skill areas (aligned to State Frameworks), which include reading and writing.

-   Completion of a Division Two AH Gateway project (capstone) that meets standards in an oral review and is presented in a public exhibition.


Math and Science: Division Two Math, Science, and Technology (Div 2 MST)
  • Parker’s curriculum and academic program are interdisciplinary. Math and science requirements for the CD (both satisfactory completion of coursework and demonstration of mastery) are fulfilled through successful completion of Division Two Math, Science and Technology (Div 2 MST), as demonstrated by the Gateway (portfolio and capstone project). For most students, this is a two-year course progression (see notes for more specific course coding information).

o  Mastery:

§  Successful completion of the Div 2 MST Gateway, including the requirements below, constitutes demonstration of mastery in the coursework above.

-   Completion of a Division Two MST Gateway portfolio of meets-level work in the required skill areas (aligned to State Frameworks), including demonstration of proficiency in required content areas in math and science.

-   Completion of a Division Two MST Gateway project (capstone) that meets standards in an oral review and is presented in a public exhibition.


Special Considerations:

o  Students with disabilities and English learners:

§  The CD requirements do not impact the entitlements that students with disabilities have under IDEA or M.G.L. c. 71B. Consistent with federal law, students with disabilities must receive a free appropriate public education, and in order to graduate, must meet the district CD requirements and local graduation requirements. Discussion of the competency determination should be a part of the IEP Team’s transition planning.

§ English Learners are provided with equal opportunities and support necessary to meet the CD requirements. Parker will, on a case-by-case basis, determine the appropriate courses necessary for English Language Learners to both achieve language proficiency and meet the competency determination requirements.

o  Late-enrolling students:

§  As a public charter school serving grades 7-12, our DESE-approved enrollment policy specifies that we admit students through Grade 9 and not after. Accordingly, we do not have students who will enroll at Parker late in their high school careers. Students admitted in Grade 9 are subject to completion of the Division Two program, as described within this document, to earn the CD. Any other unusual instance will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Principal to ensure completion of CD requirements or their equivalent.

o  Limited instances in which MCAS scores may be used:

§ In the instance that a student faces unusual circumstances that complicate the completion of the CD as detailed above, a qualifying MCAS score of at least meeting or exceeding expectations achievement levels on the relevant high school MCAS test may be considered using the appeals process. All such requests should be made in writing to the Principal. MCAS cannot be used to replace the requirement to Gateway into Division Three or to be eligible to begin Senior year. All Division Three graduation requirements must still be completed to be eligible to earn a diploma.

o  Appeals:

§  Any student who has not completed the CD requirements but has completed the graduation requirements has the right to appeal the decision in writing to the Principal. The Principal will review the transcript and any other pertinent information in the student’s record, information provided by the teachers, and information provided by the student and/or parent/guardian. The response to the appeal will be provided in writing to the student within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the written appeal.

o  Transcript review:

§ Students in Parker classes of 2003-2024 who did not earn a diploma as a result of not meeting CD requirements (MCAS scores for those years of graduation) may request a transcript review to determine if they are now eligible for a diploma in  light of the district’s current CD requirements. This request should be made in writing and sent to the Principal. To be eligible, the individual must have been previously enrolled at Parker through the end of the senior year, met all local graduation requirements, not have been previously reported as a graduate from any other district, and must meet the district’s current CD and local graduation requirements.


Approved by Parker Board of Trustees: 11/13/2025

 

  • Notes on Coursework:

o  Coursework (AH):

§  ELA: The ELA portion of Div 2 AH is coded for DESE purposes as 01051 [English Literature (freshman and sophomores)]. Students are typically enrolled in this class for their two years in Division 2 AH.

-  Students who accelerate into and/or through the Div 2 AH program (because they show mastery ahead of the typical timeline) will, by definition, take Div 2 AH for less than two full years within the high school program. These students progress to Div 3 AH, where they continue to take ELA classes that meet the DESE requirements [such as: 01060 (Literature of an Author); 01061 (Literature of a Genre); 01062 (Literature of a Period); 01064 (Literature of a People); 01065 (Literature of a Theme); 01102 (English/Composition, jr/sr), and/or 01104 (Creative Writing)].

§  U.S. History: The U.S. History portion of Div 2 AH is coded for DESE purposes as 04109 [Particular Topics in U.S. History].

-  Students are typically enrolled in this class for one full year while in Division 2 AH. Students who accelerate into and/or through the Div 2 AH program (because they show mastery ahead of the typical timeline) may miss one or both semesters of U.S. History (the history curriculum alternates each year between a global and domestic focus). If a student misses any semesters of the U.S. History curriculum while in Div 2 AH, they will then progress to Div 3 AH, where they will take U.S. History course(s) as required to meet the DESE requirements [such as: 04109 (Particular Topics in U.S. History); 04156 (United States and World Affairs); and/or 04149 (other U.S. History course).

o  Coursework (MST):

§  Math: The math portion of Div 2 MST is coded for DESE purposes as 02061 [Integrated Math—multi-year equivalent]. Students are typically enrolled in this class for their two years in Division 2 MST.

-  Students who accelerate into and/or through the Div 2 MST program (because they show mastery ahead of the typical timeline) may take Div 2 MST for less than two full years. These students progress to Div 3 MST, where they continue to take math classes such as: 02056 (Algebra II), followed by 02103 (Trigonometry); 02121 (Calculus); and/or 02202 (Inferential Probability and Statistics).

§  Science: The science portion of Div 2 MST is coded for DESE purposes as 03201 [Integrated Science]. Each year, the curriculum has a biology-focused semester and then an integrated science semester. Over the two year Div 2 MST experience, students study a full year of Biology and a full year of other integrated sciences (some physics, some chemistry, some ecology, some engineering, etc).

-   Students who accelerate into and/or through the Div 2 MST program (because they show mastery ahead of the typical timeline) may take Div 2 MST for less than two full years. These students progress to Div 3 MST, where they continue to take science classes each year, such as: 03052 (Biology—Advanced Studies); 03053 (Anatomy and Physiology); 03102 (Chemistry—Advanced Studies) and/or 03154 (Particular Topics in Physics).


Parker School Graduation Requirements

 

Summary: Students may be in Division Three classes for one to three years, and they work to fill their Graduation Portfolio with meets level work over their time in Division Three. To be eligible to begin senior year in the fall, a student must be in Division Three for both Arts and Humanities (AH) and Math, Science and Technology (MST). In the senior year, students spend a full year in Senior Seminar, in which they complete their Senior Project. Additionally, they must complete Division Two Spanish (or its equivalent), as well as School Service and Wellness, unless waived or otherwise adjusted by the Principal’s Office.


In addition to meeting local Competency Determination [CD] requirements, students must complete the following graduation requirements to earn a Parker diploma:

  • Successful completion of the Graduation Portfolio
  • Successful completion of the Senior Project (within Senior Seminar)
  • Fulfillment of School Service requirements (or approved equivalent)
  • Completion of Division II Spanish (or approved equivalent)
  • Completion of Wellness requirements (or approved equivalent)


Graduation Portfolio

The Graduation Portfolio contains work from Division Three courses that demonstrate the student’s meets-level accomplishments in at least nine (9) of the twelve (12) skill areas identified in the Parker School Criteria for Excellence:


  • Oral Presentation
  • Writing
  • Reading
  • Research
  • Listening and Media Analysis
  • Artistic Expression
  • Scientific Investigation
  • Technical Communication
  • Mathematical Problem Solving
  • Systems Thinking
  • Technology
  • Spanish


The graduation portfolio contains at least six individual projects that meet expectations, drawn from at least five different Division Three semester-long courses (year-long courses may count as two different semester courses). Projects aligned to a skill area may also be included in the portfolio as approved though the alternate course of study pathway.


Only work submitted on time from “successfully completed” courses is eligible for inclusion in the graduation portfolio. Courses in which required work was not completed will be noted on the transcript; work from those courses is not eligible for the graduation portfolio. Late work is also generally not eligible for inclusion in the Graduation Portfolio. Limited exceptions to these two guidelines may be made at the discretion of the Principal’s office.


Senior Project

The Senior Project, which is held within the year-long class called Senior Seminar, is fully explained in The Senior Project Handbook. In short, there are four individually assessed components of the project:


  • Foundational Learning and Project Plan
  • Product
  • Process
  • Exhibition


To earn the diploma, the student must complete the Foundational Learning and Product elements of the project to the level of meeting standards. An exhibition must be completed in good faith but does not have a minimum assessment requirement.


School Service

School service is an ongoing requirement of the Division Three program. Division Three students are expected to satisfactorily complete their school service requirement during each of their years in Division Three. The required number of hours are set each year, depending on the school calendar. There are a variety of ways to fulfill these hours; service hours can be waived or reduced at the discretion of the Principal’s office.


Wellness

Satisfactory participation in Wellness programming and learning activities is required of Division Three students. This requirement can be waived or reduced at the discretion of the Principal’s office when individual student needs arise.


Spanish

Successful completion of Division II Spanish (or its approved equivalent) is required for graduation. Students generally take Spanish through the end of their junior year unless an alternate plan has been approved; students who have completed Division Two Spanish before the end of their junior year are expected to take Division Three Spanish or its equivalent through the end of their junior year. This requirement may be waived or reduced to accommodate student learning needs, as determined and documented by the Principal’s office.


Last updated (for clarity): 11/2025