Hanover School Committee Approves Graduation Policy Without MCAS Test Requirement
Debates State Accountability Concerns
HANOVER - October 29 - Following nearly an hour of intensive debate, the Hanover School Committee voted 3-1 October 29 to adopt a new competency determination policy that does not require students to take the MCAS exam for graduation, a decision that aligns with the state’s removal of high-stakes testing but leaves concerns about district accountability measures unresolved. The policy vote came after school administrators presented level-service budget projections for fiscal year 2027 and middle school students shared detailed plans for a new Animal Care Club.
The Full Story
The Hanover School Committee meeting on October 29th centered on contentious discussions about graduation requirements, budget planning, and MCAS accountability that revealed the complex challenges facing the district in the post-high-stakes testing era.
The evening’s most debated action item involved approval of the high school’s graduation requirements and competency determination policy. Superintendent Matthew Ferron presented the policy for second reading, noting only minor amendments from the first reading: changing the review timeline to junior year instead of senior year and adding the word “annual” before IEP meetings in the section on students with disabilities.
Committee member Ryan Hall raised significant concerns about the policy’s silence on requiring students to sit for the MCAS exam. While Massachusetts voters removed passing MCAS as a graduation requirement, the state still expects 95% student participation in the testing. Hall questioned whether the district’s policy should include a testing requirement to align with state expectations, particularly given that Hanover’s current handbook states students should take the exam.
“I have concerns about putting in a policy and requirement that flies in the face of the state expectation,” Hall said, explaining her concerns weren’t about whether MCAS measures competency but about district accountability to state requirements.
Superintendent Ferron explained the administration’s rationale. “I think the way we tried to do is come to consensus and compromise and put forward a plan that we felt still had high expectations and rigor for all students and ensuring that we could be inclusive of all the students in our district,” he said, noting the resulting accountability challenges.
Assistant Superintendent Deborah St. Ives clarified the district still expects students to participate in state-mandated testing. “In no way would the administration here try to put forward a policy that is against something that’s required by the state. We still have every expectation that students participate,” she said, explaining that even when MCAS was a graduation requirement, several students refused to take it annually.
Curriculum Director Matthew Plummer provided context about accountability ratings. The high school received a “needs assistance” designation after participation in one cohort dropped below 95%, affected by only five or six additional students choosing not to take the exam. “When I read the accountability rating for HHS as being in need of intervention, I kind of smirked and said, gee, that’s interesting. Four more kids didn’t take the MCAS and suddenly we get that label,” Plummer said.
Chair Pete Miraglia emphasized the competency determination policy focuses on graduation requirements, not broader state testing mandates. “Our policy tonight really is about what a student needs to do to graduate from Hanover High School,” Ferron clarified during the discussion.
After extensive debate, Miraglia made a motion to approve the competency determination as written with the minor amendments. Hall abstained from voting, stating she supports the policy content but remains concerned about not addressing the state’s participation requirement. The motion passed 3-0-1, with Committee members Chris Tracy, Pete Miraglia, and Jackie Jorgensen voting in favor.
The committee also unanimously approved a new Animal Care Club at Hanover High School. Junior Audrey Martin, along with treasurer Sophie Frattasio and secretary Aiden Cora, presented a comprehensive plan for the club that would provide aid to animals in South Shore shelters through donation drives, fundraising events like bake sales and car washes, and volunteer opportunities. Students would need to attend a minimum of four meetings per year and participate in at least five volunteer or fundraising events to receive community service credit. The club plans monthly 30-minute meetings in room 305 with faculty advisor Mrs. Hughes.
“We are all juniors in high school who love and care for animals, and we just really hope that we can help as many animals in need as possible,” Martin told the committee.
Director of Finance and Operations Michael Oates presented the first of three scheduled fiscal year 2027 budget presentations. The preliminary budget projects a 2.5% to 3% increase in the town allocation, maintaining level services with no new positions added and no cuts to existing staff. The total operational expenses are projected to increase by approximately $2 million, with $1.5 million attributed to personnel costs and less than $500,000 to expenses.
A significant expense driver in the FY27 budget is the planned expansion of New England Center for Children partner programs to both the elementary and high school levels. The district currently operates one such program at the middle school, which administrators described as tremendously successful. The budget allocates funds for programs at Cedar School and the high school, though final implementation decisions at the elementary level will depend on evaluation of current student cohorts by NECC staff and the district’s special education team.
Oates presented two budget scenarios within the 2.5% to 3% range. The 3% increase scenario would allow the district to preserve more circuit breaker funds for fiscal year 2028, which early projections indicate will be heavily reliant on offsets to maintain level services. The presentation emphasized that both scenarios represent level service budgets using a fully staffed model, with individual staff members projected forward based on their current step and lane positions in the salary schedule.
“When we say level services, I think that may have a negative connotation. There’s always changes within level services,” Oates explained. “We define level services as the services that our students need using our current staff and our current resources. But I do want to make sure as I keep repeating that, I’m saying that from a budget—what we’re proposing budget-wise is level service, but I also want to emphasize that we feel really good about the place that we’re in.”
The budget presentation detailed the hierarchy of funding sources the district uses beyond the town allocation, including tuition and user fees, state and federal grants, and circuit breaker reimbursements. Under both scenarios, the district anticipates rolling some fiscal year 2027 offsets into fiscal year 2028, though Oates cautioned these projections are preliminary and depend on many variables over the next 20 months.
Committee members responded positively to the preliminary budget. Committee member Chris Tracy noted the budget achieves level services while staying within established guardrails, something he found encouraging given the district’s strong current position following the recent override. Hall requested the administration consider how to fund curriculum needs and resources, particularly in areas like math programs and high school textbooks, when thinking about multi-year projections.
Oates committed to providing projections for fiscal years 2028 and 2029 at the November budget presentation, acknowledging that looking two to three years out would help the committee understand the trajectory and how offsets will be applied over time.
The committee unanimously appointed Krista Monahan to serve as the school committee’s representative on the town-wide technology committee. Superintendent Ferron called Monahan the most qualified candidate after “a worldwide search and some arm twisting.”
Curriculum Directors presented spring 2025 MCAS results for the Class of 2028. The presentation showed 67% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English Language Arts, 64% in mathematics, and 61% in biology. However, administrators noted significant concerns about student engagement during testing.
The high school received a “needs assistance” accountability classification after participation in the high needs cohort dropped below the 95% threshold. The cohort of approximately 40 students saw five students not take the exam, bringing participation to 89%. The overall 10th-grade participation rate remained above 95%, meeting state expectations.
Plummer presented data showing Hanover’s performance compared to neighboring districts and DART (District Analysis and Review Tool) schools. In all three subject areas, Hanover performed in the middle of comparison districts. The presentation included analysis by standards and domains, showing areas of strength in writing for ELA, algebra and geometry for mathematics, and ecology for biology. Areas needing improvement included knowledge of language in ELA, measurement in mathematics, and evolution concepts in biology.
Looking ahead, administrators identified key challenges including maintaining student engagement when MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement, encouraging participation to meet state accountability thresholds, and ensuring students take testing seriously. Plummer noted that while MCAS has decreased in value due to the change, it remains valuable data if students put in significant effort.
The meeting also included recognition of 23 middle school band students nominated to perform at the Bridgewater State University Middle School Band Festival, and celebration of fall athletic achievements including the golf team winning the D2 South Sectional Championship and multiple teams achieving top power rankings heading into playoffs.
The committee referred the social probation policy to the policy working group for comprehensive review. Superintendent Ferron requested the review include discussions with high school and middle school administration, school councils, and potentially Hanover Police leadership. He asked that any recommendations return to the full committee by February to allow time for handbook preparation.
Food assistance emerged as a community concern heading into the holiday season. Superintendent Ferron announced the district would conduct food drives and work with community partners to support families, particularly given anticipated pauses in SNAP benefits that affect approximately 5% of Hanover residents.
Why It Matters
The competency determination policy decision reflects Hanover’s navigation of post-referendum challenges as districts across Massachusetts grapple with balancing voter intent to remove high-stakes testing with persistent state accountability requirements. The policy establishes clear graduation requirements focused on coursework and GPA while remaining silent on MCAS participation, potentially affecting how the district is evaluated under state accountability systems. Parents of current and future students should understand that while passing MCAS is no longer required for graduation, the district still expects participation in state testing and maintains educational proficiency plans for students not meeting expectations. The fiscal year 2027 budget planning demonstrates the district’s ability to maintain current service levels and class sizes achieved through the recent override while planning strategically for program expansions like the New England Center for Children partnerships, which could reduce long-term special education costs by serving students locally rather than through expensive out-of-district placements.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve minutes for October 8th open session. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 4:51)
Motion: Approve Animal Care Club as presented. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 14:27)
Motion: Approve appointment of Krista Monahan to town-wide tech committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 15:43)
Motion: Approve CTE Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 17:23)
Motion: Approve High School Graduation Requirements and Competency Determination Policy with amendments (junior year review timeline and annual IEP language). Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0-1 (Ryan Hall abstained). (Timestamp: 50:01)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:01:51)
Public Comment
No public comments were made during either public comment period.
What’s Next
The district will continue budget presentations in November and December, with the school committee voting on the fiscal year 2027 budget in December. Budget presentations to the Select Board and Advisory Committee are scheduled for after the first of the year, with the town manager submitting the official budget on February 2nd. The town will hold a public hearing on the budget, with town meeting scheduled for May. The policy working group will conduct a comprehensive review of the social probation policy, including meetings with school administrators, school councils, and potentially police leadership, with recommendations expected by February for inclusion in handbook preparation. The administration and New England Center for Children will evaluate student cohorts at Cedar School and Center School to determine final implementation of partner programs for fiscal year 2027. The high school will host Veterans Day ceremonies on November 7th. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for middle school (November 4, 6, 7), high school (November 13), and elementary schools (November 18, 20).