Subcommittee backs new high school course catalog

School Committee · Meeting of March 3, 2026

Watertown's Curriculum Subcommittee voted 2-0 to recommend the 2026-27 Program of Studies to the full School Committee. Members Amy Donahue and Sheila Krishna backed a plan that renames course levels to "core, comprehensive, honors and AP," eliminates the lowest-level conceptual physics course, and cuts three courses for English-language learners in favor of mainstream placement with required support hours. A presenter identified as Joel said the leveling overhaul addresses years of family confusion over course selection, which opens at the middle school March 13.

Separately, the subcommittee reviewed an outside consultant's special education report following a state finding that the district "needs assistance." The subcommittee's presiding member said she lacks confidence current staffing can deliver "the scope of changes that we really need to make." No vote was taken on the special education item, expected before the full School Committee around March 23.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of March 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.