Committee approves middle-school pathway policy for DESE submission

The Walpole School Committee voted Thursday to approve a new middle-school pathways exploration policy required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and authorized administration to submit the policy by the Nov. 1 state deadline.

The policy matters because DESE requires districts with middle schools to document how they will promote career exploration, ensure equal access to secondary options and connect middle-school experiences to each student’s career and academic plan.

Superintendent staff said DESE released template guidance over the summer and provided separate guidance for career-and-technical-education schools and for all districts with middle grades. The district’s policy commits to promoting career exploration beginning in middle school, communicating options for secondary pathways (including Tri-County and other partner programs), integrating middle-school elements of MyCAP into future programming and supporting clear family communication.

Administration recommended approving and uploading the policy to DESE’s JAMS system; committee members noted a waiver process exists but that the district preferred to submit and make revisions if DESE requested changes. A motion to approve the policy was made by Mark Green and seconded by a committee member identified in the record as Ms. Gallivan; the committee recorded a 4–0–1 vote with one abstention.