The Medford School Committee voted to approve amended language to Policy IKF, which clarifies who participates in graduation, specifies math pathway requirements by class cohort and restates that decisions for students in substantially separate programs are made through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi told the committee the changes were intended to respond to stakeholder questions and to provide clearer guidance for students and families. “All students that receive a diploma or a certificate of completion will absolutely participate in graduation,” Galusi said.

Key clarifications: The amended language makes explicit that participation in the graduation ceremony is for all Medford High School students who have received a diploma or a certificate of completion. The policy also lays out local math requirements by graduating class: for the classes of 2025–2027, students must pass Geometry (or Integrated Math 1 in ninth grade) and Algebra II (or Integrated Math 2 in grade 10); for the class of 2028 and beyond, students entering as freshmen must pass Integrated Math 1 (CP or honors) and Integrated Math 2 (CP or honors) by grade 10, reflecting the district’s integrated math pathways.

The policy addition reiterates that decisions about students in substantially separate programs are made through their IEP teams and restates the diploma requirements (12 required credits plus a competency determination). Committee members also discussed community service expectations: the language clarified a 60‑hour community service expectation across high school, with an ideal distribution of roughly 15 hours per year.

Amendments and process: Member Reinfeld suggested wording changes to replace the header “Further considerations and next steps” with “Additional considerations” to reflect that the text is part of policy rather than an external guidance document. The committee agreed to include the clarified language in the policy and to post the relevant materials for community review; members asked staff to confirm what pages are posted and where they are available online.

Related resolution on health/PE flexibility: Separately, the committee adopted New Business (2025‑11), filed by Member Graham and co‑sponsored by Member Reinfeld, directing the administration to deliver a recommendation to the committee by June 1, 2025, proposing increased flexibility in the health and physical education graduation requirement. The resolution text asks administration to prepare to implement approved changes for the 2025–26 school year if the committee approves them. Member Graham framed the request as an effort to provide schedule flexibility and additional elective access for multi‑sport student athletes and others with out‑of‑school activities.

Vote and next steps: The amended IKF language was approved by motion and will be returned to the agenda as required by committee policy for subsequent readings; the health/PE recommendation is expected from administration by June 1, 2025.