MA S426

MassCore becomes a required program of study for all Massachusetts high school students starting with the 2027-2028 ninth grade class, consisting of 4 units of English, 4 units of math, 3 units of lab-based science, 3 units of history, 2 units of world language, 1 unit of arts, and 5 core electives

A MassCore advisory council of 15 members representing teachers unions, school administrators, parents, students, and advocacy organizations will collaborate with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on implementation and regulations

School districts must report their compliance capacity by December 31, 2025; districts demonstrating financial hardship will receive state appropriations before the requirements take effect for their students

Waivers may be granted for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, newly enrolled students, and districts facing demonstrated hardships; flexibility is provided for career and technical education students

A special commission of approximately 30 members will study alternative student assessment methods beyond conventional testing, examining options like portfolios, capstone projects, and performance assessments, with recommendations due by August 31, 2026