Massachusetts education officials are planning to submit new MassCore coursework and post-secondary planning regulations for schools as the state’s post-MCAS graduation requirements continue to take shape.
“The regulations this year would establish what districts and schools would be required to offer students: all students receiving access to MassCore and all students receiving post-secondary planning through MyCAP,” said Lauren Woo, DESE deputy commissioner. “Setting up the foundation so that when legislation does move forward for student-level graduation requirements, districts are already on the path to ensuring students are set up well for success.”
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting Tuesday covered only MassCore and MyCAP regulations – calling them primary components to “set the standard for redefining what a diploma in Massachusetts represents” – though the proposed graduation framework covers several more requirements.
The board is set to begin discussion of the proposed MassCore and MyCAP regulations for schools in November.
Speakers at the board meeting Tuesday noted regulations this year will “establish expectations for what high schools must offer” and would not “impose new graduation requirements on individual students.” The new student-level graduation requirements will require legislative action.
Following the overturn on the MCAS requirement for high school graduation in 2024, the state Education Secretary and DESE Commissioner issued final graduation requirement recommendations in June.
The primary components of this framework include foundational coursework through MassCore, end-of-course assessments, post-secondary planning through My Career and Academic Plan or MyCAP, and portfolios or capstones, with more “embedded components” like financial literacy and work-based learning.
MassCore, a state recommended program of study including English, math, science, arts and other courses, is already a requirement or one course away from required at 70% of high schools that submitted local graduation requirements to the state, DESE Senior Associate Commissioner of Secondary Schools and Beyond Adam Seidel said. The districts report 82% of Massachusetts public high school graduates in 2025 completed MassCore.
The MyCAP proposal would require students to begin a plan in ninth grade, designed to help students navigate career exploration, choose courses and identify skill needed to “create and implement an individual plan for postsecondary success,” Seidel said.
Researchers presented on outcomes of both proposals, noting the MassCore’s “strong predictor of postsecondary success” and MyCAP’s relationship to student’s likelihood to “graduate from high school, apply to college, and enroll in college.”
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The research on MassCore did note challenging patterns for students with disabilities and English language learners, with state officials adding they “anticipate preserving the current flexibilities and substitutions that are part of our guidance to help make sure that students and from different in different circumstances can access the curriculum.”
Education officials stated there is ongoing workshops, guidance and grants with MassCore and MyCAP to help schools with implementation.
“We know and hear that districts are eager to start building the capacity now,” said Seidel. “Many of our conversations with districts are that they’re interested in engaging even while the legislation and regulations are pending, because most of these components are aligned to what they want for their students already, and/or exist in some form within their school.”
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