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‘No on 2’ campaign gets largest donation yet: $2.5 million from Michael Bloomberg
The former New York City mayor and Medford native is investing heavily to make sure MCAS scores are still used as a high school graduation requirement.
As Election Day nears, opponents of a Massachusetts ballot question that would eliminate MCAS testing as a high school graduation requirement received by far their largest financial contribution yet.
Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire businessman and former mayor of New York City, donated $2.5 million to the “No on 2” campaign, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance’s online records. The donation was filed last Tuesday. In total, the “No on 2” campaign has raised about $4.8 million to date, including Bloomberg’s donation.
In order to graduate, high school students must currently pass the standardized MCAS test, in the areas of English, mathematics, and science and technology. A formidable coalition has formed, powered by the state’s largest teachers union, to push for MCAS results to no longer be used as a graduation requirement. They argue that the test unfairly hinders students of color, those from low-income families, and students with disabilities. The “Yes on 2” campaign also says it is concerned that educators prioritize “teaching for the test” rather than helping students get a well-rounded education.
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On the other side of the conversation, where Bloomberg apparently falls, are those that say the MCAS is a valuable tool for making sure students are held to high standards across the state. They worry about what would happen if hundreds of individual school districts created their own requirements, and argue that Massachusetts’ elite public education system should not be undermined.
Before Bloomberg’s massive donation, the campaign’s largest donor was New Balance Chairman Jim Davis. He donated $250,000 earlier this month. Other major donors include executives from Eastern Bank, Bain Capital, Charles River Ventures, and Berkshire Partners.
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Question 2 has divided some of the state’s most notable elected officials. While Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ed Markey, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley support its passage, Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell oppose it. Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler is also against the measure.
The “Yes on 2” campaign appears well-positioned heading into November. A recent UMass Amherst/WCVB poll found that 53% of respondents were in favor, 36% were opposed, and 11% were unsure. The poll found that 31% of respondents think students will be able to move into the workforce more quickly without the MCAS requirement, and 29% believe it will result in declining educational standards. A total of 16% said it would do both.
Bloomberg is a Medford native and a graduate of Harvard Business School. He recently donated about $50 million to help Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. The move came after Bloomberg succumbed to pressure from other billionaires like Bill Gates, The New York Times reported. Bloomberg ran for president himself in 2020, using $1 billion of his own money to fund the short-lived campaign. He later invested heavily in helping President Biden claim victory.
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