Massachusetts Students Excel on MCAS and Global Standardized Tests, Study Says

Massachusetts students as of 10 years ago were not only excelling on the state's Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams but were also performing on par with some of the top-ranked education systems worldwide, according to a newly published study from Pioneer Institute..The study compared MCAS results from 2001 to 2015 with scores from international assessments taken between 2007 and 2015..The study, Student Achievement: MCAS and International Exams, authored by Professor Ken Ardon, a Fulbright Scholar and professor of economics, highlights the Commonwealth's success. Massachusetts students have demonstrated performance levels comparable to the highest-ranking countries, outperforming the national average in the United States, Ardon found.."Across several years and subjects, the performance of Massachusetts students on international exams confirmed the quality of the Commonwealth's K-12 public schools," Ardon said in a press release from the Pioneer Institute. "Those high-quality public schools attract workers, and well-educated graduates attract employers.".Pioneer Institute is a right-of-center think tank headquartered in Boston that generally supports MCAS standards..A ballot question in the November 2024 election asks Massachusetts voters whether they want to stop making passing MCAS tests a graduation requirement for Massachusetts high schools. Supporters of dropping the MCAS graduation requirement say it puts too much stress on students and forces teachers to teach to the test instead of imparting knowledge more generally. Opponents say the standards ensure that a high school diploma in Massachusetts is meaningful and not just a sign of social promotion..The findings of the Pioneer study, which was published Monday, September 30, offer support for MCAS..Higher test scores often correlate with better outcomes across various social factors, including lower dropout rates, higher college completion rates, decreased dependency on government assistance, reduced likelihood of criminal activity, and improved overall health, the organization's press release said. These benefits also extend into family life, with test scores positively influencing the likelihood of successful marriages, the study found..These findings follow reports of a decline in MCAS scores across Massachusetts, as the 2024 results show the lingering effects of pandemic-shutdowns-related disruptions to in-person learning. Many students are struggling with learning loss, which poses long-term concerns for college and career readiness.."The MCAS has shown us that students across the state are struggling with learning loss right now, which will have a domino effect on college and career readiness and ultimately the economy," Jamie Gass, director of education at Pioneer Institute, said in the press release. "Professor Ardon's study and common sense tells us that MCAS has been a useful tool in making Massachusetts academically competitive not only on a statewide level but internationally.".Since 2008, the MCAS has tested students in grades 3-8 and 10 on English Language Arts and math, with additional Science and Technology exams administered in grades 5, 8, and 10. In 2001, Massachusetts introduced the requirement that 10th graders pass MCAS exams to graduate from high school, and in 2008, a Science and Technology exam became an additional graduation prerequisite. During the period from 2001 to 2015, the results showed steady improvement..These improvements were mirrored nationally, as rising MCAS scores aligned with stronger performance on the National Assessment for Educational Progress, meaning that the gains on MCAS reflected genuine academic progress..Massachusetts students also partook in international assessments, including the Trends in International Math and Science Study and the Program for International Student Assessment..Trends in International Math and Science Study, which tests fourth-graders and eighth-graders globally in math and science every four years, saw Massachusetts eighth-graders jump from 16th place in math and 12th place in science in 1999 to 6th and 2nd place, respectively, in 2011. Fourth-graders from the Commonwealth ranked fourth in the world for math and second in science by 2011..The Program for International Student Assessment, which tests 15-year-olds in math, science, and reading every three years, placed Massachusetts students among the world's top performers. In 2012, the state ranked 10th in math, 7th in science, and 4th in reading among 65 participating countries and regions. Meanwhile, the United States as a whole ranked much lower, placing 30th in math, 23rd in science, and 20th in reading. By 2015, Massachusetts had improved its international standing, placing 12th in math, 2nd in science, and 1st in reading out of 72 participants..Comparisons have become more challenging since 2017, when Massachusetts revised its state standards and revamped the MCAS exams, the press release said. The changes have made it difficult to evaluate trends across the years..New to NewBostonPost? 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Massachusetts Students Excel on MCAS and Global Standardized Tests, Study Says

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