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Yes on 2: MCAS will no longer be high school graduation requirement
With about 88% of precincts reporting, 59% of residents were in favor of ending the graduation requirement in lieu of district-set standards, according to the Associated Press.
High schoolers in Massachusetts will no longer need to pass the MCAS to receive their diploma after voters overwhelmingly passed Question 2.
With about 88% of precincts reporting, 59% of residents were in favor of ending the graduation requirement and replacing it with district-set coursework, according to the Associated Press.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association, the union behind the ballot question, and their supporters celebrated at Copley Hotel on Tuesday night.
“In passing Question 2, Massachusetts voters have proclaimed that they are ready to let teachers teach, and students learn, without the onerous effects of a high-stakes standardized test undermining the mission of public education: to prepare all students for future success as citizens, workers and creative, happy adults,” said MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy in a statement issued on behalf of the Committee for High Standards, Not High Stakes on Wednesday morning.
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The MTA called the results “truly a collective victory,” and thanked all those who worked hard to advocate for the passing of the ballot measure.
Instead of the MCAS requirement, students will completely coursework in math, science and technology, and English. State Sen. Jason Lewis said he intends to file legislation in January requiring graduating students to complete MassCore, which is currently just recommended, for districts across the state. He said that would align Massachusetts with most other states.
“Standardized tests are imperfect and cannot measure the full scope of skills, knowledge, and competencies that we want to develop in our young people and are critical for their future success,” Lewis wrote on social media. “Research has shown that test scores are highly correlated with student demographics, like family income.”
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“Change is never easy or swift,” the MTA said Wednesday. “When it comes to our children’s education, we must be certain that we are acting in their best interests. But there are no better experts in what our children need to succeed academically than the educators working every day in the classrooms of our public schools.
“With this election victory, voters have welcomed a new era in our public schools,” the MTA continued. “This is the beginning of more holistic and thorough assessments of student work. We also are interested in continuing to discuss making the MassCore course of study available to all students in the Commonwealth. But the first achievement is complete: Our schools will stop punishing students who simply do not do well on standardized tests, for whatever reason.”
The MCAS results will still be used to hold teachers and schools accountable, without hurting students, MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy said previously. Question 2 also had the support of Cambridge local Matt Damon.
Opponents, with millions in financial backing from business leaders including Michael Bloomberg, were arguing that removing the test would lower standards all around for Massachusetts students.
In a statement, John Schneider, chair of the Protect Our Kids’ Future: No on 2 campaign, said, “While we are disappointed with the result, the discussion about educational equity and academic standards does not end with this vote.
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“Eliminating the graduation requirement without a replacement is reckless,” the statement continued. “The passage of Question 2 opens the door to greater inequity; our coalition intends to ensure that door does not stay open. Those responsible for our state’s public education system need to have an honest conversation about whether moving forward with this proposal is the right decision for Massachusetts.”
Contrary to public opinion, Gov. Maura Healey, Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, and Senate President Karen Spilka are against the measure. Spilka has previously said that the Legislature might exercise its right and change the proposal.
Schneider thanked Healey, Tutwiler, and Spilka, as well as others who “publicly voiced their opposition to removing our only statewide standard for public high school graduation.”
“The massive special interest spending and misrepresentation of the consequences of Question 2 illustrates why ballot questions are a poor way to address complicated education policy,” Schneider said. “We believe all of us, working together, should take a comprehensive look in a timely fashion at setting statewide graduation standards to properly prepare our students for college and workforce expectations. We hope the teachers unions will join us in that effort.”
What happens now?
The measure will go into effect immediately, meaning the class of 2025 won’t need to pass the MCAS to graduate in May.
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If Lewis’s plan goes through, districts across the state could be required to implement standardized graduation requirements after the implementation of Question 2.
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