Superintendent/Receiver Anthony Soto discusses new diploma eligibility for those did not receive one because of the old MCAS requirement.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
HOLYOKE — Superintendent/Receiver Anthony Soto discussed diploma eligibility for former students impacted by MCAS during the Holyoke School Committee meeting on June 9.
With the recent elimination of MCAS being a graduation requirement, individual school districts are now allowed to establish their own course completion requirements, which allows districts to issue diplomas to those graduates who would have met the new criteria.
The new competency determination criteria includes a passing grade for both grade 9 and 10 English courses, a passing grade for both the algebra 1 and geometry courses and a passing grade in biology.
Course equivalents can be determined by the school principal and approved by the superintendent.
If you believe your transcript meets this criteria and would like to request a diploma to replace your certificate of attainment, readers can visit hps.holyoke.ma.us under the “Records Request” tab.
Soto said that recent and past news on the diploma process can be found on the Holyoke Public Schools website as well as social media.
There is a page on the district website that directs people from the community on how to submit public records requests and made sure to include request for diplomas based on the change in competency determination.
The process includes that first an email goes to the superintendent and then the request is sent to either Holyoke High School North Campus or Holyoke High School Dean Campus counselors to complete a transcript audit.
The school counselors will affirm or reject the request based on the review of the transcript.
If approved, the school district generates a diploma and will get mailed to the graduate. Soto said the diplomas have not been sent yet because they are still compiling the information and plan to send them all at once.
“We haven’t been doing them one by one. We’re waiting to aggregate them and there’s been communication back and forth with everybody that has submitted,” Soto said.
At the time of the School Committee meeting, there were 22 requests for diplomas, with 14 of them being approved so far. There are eight that are pending review.
Soto also acknowledged that two of the requests were from former students who passed the MCAS but may have wanted their diploma reprinted.
When asked if there would be a special moment dedicated to these individuals besides receiving their diplomas in the mail, Soto said they have not had any conversation about creating a celebration.
School Committee member Ellie Wilson recommended that a special moment or celebration be organized for these individuals and said she will bring up the matter at a future School Committee meeting.
School Committee member Devin Sheehan said besides posting information on the website, one of the school subcommittees discussed looking at student records from the past five to 10 years and proactively reaching out to students by sending them a letter to let them know they are eligible to receive a diploma if they fill out the form.
Soto said he will double check with the school counselors, but stated that some of the counselors “may have reached out and shoulder tapped some kids,” but did not have any numbers on that.
Sheehan said he would like to see the district send a memo to those identified as now being eligible for a diploma.
“This could also impact the district’s five-year graduation rate when we’re looking at this year. There are students that maybe the counselor didn’t know who to call. I think a letter out could, I mean, if it picks up one extra student that didn’t have this opportunity,” Sheehan said.
Soto said he thinks he could work with his data team to follow up.
