District news
Framingham seeks a two-year flexible-time waiver for FHS Academy
What happened
The district requested approval to seek a two-year DESE student-learning-time waiver for the FHS Academy at Thayer day and evening programs, replacing a strict 990-hour seat-time structure with competency-based, hybrid, and individualized learning safeguards.
Why it matters to families
The alternative program serves students facing work, caregiving, attendance, and traditional-school barriers; the memo reports a 2025 four-year graduation rate of 75.7% districtwide and disproportionate dropout rates for English learners.
The evidence
The June 3 waiver memo describes the requested term, program design, student data, curriculum safeguards, and prior Teaching and Learning Subcommittee endorsement; later approved minutes are not posted.
The source
Student Learning Time waiver recommendation memoSee the full record for Framingham Public Schools.
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