Bill
H 525
HB525 creates dual graduation paths: a local diploma for competency under local standards, or a DESE certificate for passing state assessments; MCAS not required for the diploma.
Overview
- Bill Number: H 525
- Title: An Act related to high school graduation
- Sponsor: Representative Antonio F. D. Cabral (primary), New Bedford
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Status and schedule: Hearing scheduled November 12, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
- Legislative path: Referred to the Committee on Education (02/27/2025); Senate concurred on the same date; related matter filed previously as HD 3776 (2023-2024)
Purpose and core aims
- The bill seeks to revise Massachusetts high school graduation requirements by establishing two pathways to credentialing that reflect demonstrated competency rather than relying solely on a single statewide assessment framework.
- It codifies a dual approach: a locally issued diploma upon demonstrated competency, and a state-issued certificate recognizing success on state assessments.
Key provisions
- Amendment to law: Subsection (i) of section 1D of chapter 69 of the General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition) is amended by inserting new sentences after the second sentence.
- Local diploma pathway:
- Students who demonstrate competency by meeting the academic standards and curriculum frameworks specified in the section, and who satisfy requirements established by their local school committee, shall be granted a High School Diploma issued by the local school committee.
- The local-diploma issuance certifies that the student has met the competency determination described in the section and entitles the student to all rights and privileges of high school graduation.
- State-assessment pathway:
- Students who demonstrate competency by passing the state assessments (including the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, MCAS, and any successors) may be granted a certificate issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) acknowledging the passing of those assessments.
- Clarifications:
- The MCAS is explicitly stated as not a graduation requirement for the local diploma pathway.
- The language provides a formal recognition framework: local diplomas for competency per local standards, and a DESE-issued certificate for passing state assessments.
Who is affected
- High school students seeking graduation credentials
- Local school committees and school districts (responsible for granting local diplomas and setting competency requirements)
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) (responsible for issuing state-assessment certificates)
- General public stakeholders interested in graduation standards and credentialing
Procedural and timeline notes
- The bill proposes changes to graduation standards at the statutory level, with a stated effective framework contingent on the enacted amendment.
- The hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2025, in Gardner Auditorium.
- The measure has a related bill history (HD 3776 from the 2023-2024 session) indicating ongoing interest in competency-based graduation reforms.
Impact and considerations
- Potential shift from a single, statewide graduation criterion to a dual system that honors local competency standards while retaining a state-recognized certificate for assessment-based achievement.
- The existence of two distinct credentials (local diploma vs DESE certificate) may affect how schools allocate resources for competency assessment, curriculum alignment, and student support services.
- By stating MCAS is not a graduation requirement for the diploma path, the bill broadens the acceptable routes to graduation while preserving an alternative recognition pathway for students who meet state assessment benchmarks.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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