Littleton School Committee Approves 2.75 Percent Budget Increase, Advances Competency Policy

LITTLETON -- November 6, 2025, Littleton School Committee approves a 2.75 percent preliminary budget increase and hears broad MCAS gains across all three schools. Director of Teaching and Learning Elizabeth Seale and building principals reported November 6 that Littleton High School math meeting-or-exceeding scores climbed from 64 percent to 74 percent and ELA partially meeting scores fell 12 points, while both LHS and Littleton Middle School retained Schools of Recognition status from the state. Russell Street Principal Colin attributed a small ELA dip to year one of the Wit and Wisdom curriculum, calling it "not unexpected," and announced third-grade teachers will begin training in the companion Geodes decodable reading program after the new year. Special Education Coordinator Mike Jarvis defended IEP subgroup results, arguing the student growth percentile, not meeting-or-exceeding percentage, is "the only number" that fairly measures students whose IEP caseload composition shifts annually as high performers exit and newly identified students enter. The committee also accepted first readings of a new standalone Competency Determination policy, required by DESE after May 2025 regulation changes, with a submission deadline before the end of 2025.