Massachusetts state law requires students to satisfy the requirements of a competency determination (CD) to graduate high school. Historically the competency determination for all high school graduates across the state of MA was a passing score on MCAS assessments. However, in November 2024, Massachusetts voters passed Question 2, a measure that removed MCAS as a mandatory condition for high school graduation.
Under the newly revised law, students are required to still take MCAS exams (in grades 3–8 and 10), but they will no longer need a passing score on the Gr. 10 MCAS to receive a diploma. Instead, the governing body of the district must develop a policy for determining competency that outlines how students will demonstrate mastery of a common core of skills that are aligned to the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in the areas previously measured by MCAS high school tests. Satisfaction of the competency determination shall be a condition for high school graduation.