[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6346383,"mediaKeyId","2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d","parentId",2246949,"title","Durfee Program of Studies proposes senior credit minimum, 'Adulting' course and CTE pilots; subcommittee refers proposal to policy committee","audioSeconds",2248,"startMs",2444000,"endMs",4692000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d&start=2444&end=4692","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d/thumbnail_2444000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346383/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Durfee-Program-of-Studies-proposes-senior-credit-minimum-Adulting-course-and-CTE-pilots-subcommittee-refers-proposal-to-policy-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346383-724e60676fd3297937c9bb48e5ef2f0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153184&Signature=CywOqbc7mCWuUnpitKUkdlzYfZ2wUqFUi7Ak3-ocIg1fPmhmuIgvIIarse21y5HanZMZQlJkAsCkuO2oJiybgcCS4X6UFHR7JdJ1bKe7l~-TtDKpJL0GXMvis1AbvnlI9n7h6ZJOMW4zW7Td7vjI7uweagKKvH~-pLkya2Iapb5AQDcb7lxCI97W0Veq4aKegpQpDqrElQSVEqcoW29fSGWzzStN2vFIstmyveCr7KjyhwV-mvtruT8TI4DEWsw6eN~oDkgKXl7LDUNY5iKm9epWv6Etkd2wvS2~zCE0KcZdgPN8h5wKzlQwZTVgaMo28zsydKcxMRfv1-6zD5Qu2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fall River City, MA","date","2025-02-07T00:33:39Z","article","Fall River City Instructional Subcommittee members discussed proposed changes to Durfee High School's 2025–26 Program of Studies on Feb. 5, including academic-material updates, expanded access for multilingual learners and special education students, a proposed senior-year credit minimum and exploratory career-technical pilots. The subcommittee voted by voice to refer the proposal to the policy committee for further review.

Presenters (identified in the meeting as \"Doctor J\" and district staff) said the Program of Studies revisions are organized around four focal areas: strengthening student achievement through high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) with emphasis on math and science (for example, tethering pre-AP biology and algebra to HQIMs such as open sci-ed and Carnegie curriculum), broadening course options for diverse learners (additional supports and accelerated tracks for multilingual learners and heritage-language students), increasing access to advanced coursework (pilots for co-taught AP classes and PLTW access in the Newcomer Academy), and enhancing the senior experience.

On the senior experience, presenters proposed establishing a 15-credit minimum for senior year (staff said currently no district-wide minimum exists and some students graduate with as few as five credits), adding a course titled \"Achieving the Vision of a Graduate\" to build critical-thinking and postsecondary planning skills, and continuing a semester-term elective (described in materials as Adulting 101) that focuses on practical life skills. Presenters framed the proposed senior-course work as a way to align with forthcoming DESE competency-determination guidance and to give students opportunities to demonstrate mastery of the district's stated graduate competencies.

Committee members raised questions and suggestions about CTE (career and technical education) expansion, local industry partnerships and how to keep graduates in the community. Presenters described small pilots, including a fashion-design/advanced-manufacturing/textile pilot that would allow seniors to visit local manufacturers and provide a paid spring-semester internship to at least ten students; local firms named in the presentation included Vance and Leathers and others identified during the meeting. District staff said they are also considering pathways such as criminal justice/first-responder and an interpreter early-college pathway to align with labor-market demand and multilingual-student needs.

After discussion, a subcommittee member moved to refer the Program of Studies packet to the policy committee; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. No numeric roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Committee members asked for further detail on some course descriptions (for example, the local-history course and African American studies at CP level) and presenters said they would adjust or clarify language in packet materials before policy-committee review. Staff also noted that expansion timelines depend on university and college partner capacity and district budget constraints.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2.5.2025 FRPS Instructional Subcommittee","oneSentenceSummary","Durfee High School presented proposed 2025–26 Program of Studies changes including a proposed 15-credit minimum for senior year, a new senior course centered on graduate competencies, expanded access to AP and early-college pathways, and CTE pilots.","taxTitle","Fall River City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",4215,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346388,"Durfee early-college program reports growth, partnerships and high FAFSA completion",2116,320000,2436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d&start=320&end=2436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d/thumbnail_320000.jpg","/articles/6346388/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Durfee-early-college-program-reports-growth-partnerships-and-high-FAFSA-completion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346388-731ce5e535107cb48807d4d67264edda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153184&Signature=cb9YuE3ybtNOVkNLzUGrm8iBXCbXugwM5lHEQ4zPcnVdhNL9nDsWck4akzfrI0MET9jNiHrVoi-L-6z9sRJ1Mf1HnA6ihYynFt~TUV0RmMFnEKuZy~SVbMm21bSwDPT89Exd8I80nZaLNt~fMterMKxds7iJZ2yQC-IGsn3GD7MjzzZMGBL~DFcJPGPrSonUYmN57Df33LuQYC0n3irQLgeGVdNNXlspzNaEi~5JpEx82SSuP1GiGfCka77ICNuVhsh4RVk4Gq4XLzyh~ZyxBYUjqJ6WFGjjdoMkDhtv5rSjFRriXtyfBGFwg-GXfq4abr5JEhn~KHOwzGNLyr7PDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Durfee High School staff updated the Fall River City Instructional Subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 5, reporting increased enrollment in the district's early-college program and outlining partnerships and student-support structures intended to expand access to postsecondary credit during the school day.

Program leaders said the initiative now has 233 11th- and 12th-grade students actively taking credit-bearing coursework during the school day, about 40 10th graders participating this spring and roughly 22 class sections across three higher-education partners. The presenters said the district employs four dedicated early-college staff members and runs classes in partnership with Bristol Community College, Bridgewater State University and UMass Dartmouth.

Program leaders said the model removes common barriers to dual enrollment: courses take place during the normal school day, there are no single academic prerequisites for entry, and a portion of the program is free to students (covering course fees, books and supplies). The staff described a typical pathway as two college courses per semester, with flexibility for students to accelerate or decelerate based on readiness and life circumstances.

The presenters shared early outcome data they described as promising: 87 percent of Durfee's class of 2024 reportedly graduated with 12 or more college credits; 91 percent completed the FAFSA or MASFA; and 88 percent of the class of 2024 had been verified as enrolled in higher education (the presenters contrasted these figures with statewide averages they cited). The staff said they aim to grow the program by roughly 20 students next year while maintaining supports for participating students.

Subcommittee members asked about capacity and expansion. Program staff said expansion is constrained by budget and university capacity and that a wait list of roughly 20 students exists. They discussed long-term goals — including reaching about 25 percent of the student body to produce ","Presenters told the Fall River Instructional Subcommittee that Durfee High's early-college program has grown to about 20% of grades 10–12, is serving 233 upperclassmen in credit-bearing coursework, and is supported by partnerships with Bristol Community College, Bridgewater State University and UMass Dartmouth.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346379,"Resident urges Durfee curriculum include financial-literacy materials and broader life-skills instruction",217,108000,325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d&start=108&end=325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246949-39819e5487933b82382c193f9b69924d/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6346379/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Resident-urges-Durfee-curriculum-include-financial-literacy-materials-and-broader-life-skills-instruction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346379-a017ee66c13dfd82e86a8a0cfdce1410/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153184&Signature=adRwJkj2GbchY2w00Et0rWCXFTsv18KCwd3d58q1YlBPhuhWXTuS0CYZ0fWDduHPsX7aCWTzIQ7TiShg0vV2PwDP7A8Lt4fWNtU4wuW5~DpAD3uWq3OA9VN7CB7lZ-PSZ1L0iQlWYVDUdgHX5gWeUnFHz8jNTpPcm9l5IW5nnn6dMAGtWjT4OFQNWDCcxtaEKJpfgy0Ti-zLajR-8StVqgkxfrMYxgN~lAtq-c39dqBhTUexCqHhYC~G1ptyrK2N8H~Q9E3t2LeshfDCFtCOlEDKZiQp6vka4cnW3c6Zy2ilg32VmQ4zIt8o9QqCgdchfByZGAOIKPw3MOkdfOABPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public-comment portion of the Instructional Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 5, resident Jordan Sylvia of Highland Avenue urged district leaders to adopt materials on financial literacy and personal development for Durfee students. Sylvia, who identified as a home educator, said books and short courses on financial skills could be inexpensive and that the community's historical, long-term poverty suggests the district is not achieving desired outcomes solely through existing instruction.

Sylvia said they had raised the issue previously with district staff and asked the new superintendent to consider making materials available to students without taking classroom time, for example by distributing inexpensive books and resources. The resident told the subcommittee that the Durfee curriculum contains few terms devoted to “adulting” or extended financial-literacy instruction and that adding such resources could improve life outcomes.

The subcommittee acknowledged the comment and thanked Sylvia for speaking during citizens input; presenters later described a continuing commitment to embedding financial-literacy and postsecondary-planning topics in senior-year courses and in the proposed \"Achieving the Vision of a Graduate\" class discussed later in the agenda.

","A Fall River resident, Jordan Sylvia of Highland Ave, used the citizen input period to urge the district to add financial-literacy materials and life-skills instruction to the Durfee curriculum, saying those resources changed their life and would cost little to provide.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Durfee Program of Studies proposes senior credit minimum, 'Adulting' course and CTE pilots; subcommittee refers proposal to policy committee

Durfee early-college program reports growth, partnerships and high FAFSA completion

Resident urges Durfee curriculum include financial-literacy materials and broader life-skills instruction