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Massachusetts Education Secretary Says Keep MCAS Graduation Requirement

October 14, 2024

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler says he is a firm no vote on Question 2.

Supporters of the ballot question seek to eliminate the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (widely known as MCAS) as a graduation requirement for high school students in math, science, and English.

Tutwiler emphasized the importance of maintaining a system of assessment and accountability within the state’s education framework.

“We got to this place because of the incredible teachers that we have here in Massachusetts, and their work closely with families and with students, and also because of a system of assessment and accountability we have, in partnership with the resources that we bring to bear on student learning,” Tutwiler said on WCVB Channel 5’s On The Record on Sunday, October 13. “Here, the ballot question seeks to take a piece of this away, and we’re deeply concerned about that.”

Supporters of the Yes on 2 campaign, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, argue that the current system of high-stakes testing disproportionately affects students from low-income and non-white communities and English language learners. They also argue that a single test should not determine a student’s eligibility to graduate.

In a recent press release, the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s president, Max Page, expressed support for removing the MCAS requirement.

“We stand with our students and teachers in maintaining high standards for education, not high-stakes testing,” Page said in the written statement. “Together, we can ensure that all Massachusetts students have the opportunity to succeed without being unfairly held back by a standardized test.”

That’s also how U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) feels about the proposal. 

“I believe in public schools all the way down to my toes. I believe they are the places where we build opportunity for all our children and the places where we strengthen our democracy,” Warren said in a press release. “So I will always stand by our public school teachers, including on Question 2 this November. We need to make sure that Massachusetts schools continue to be the best in the nation, and that means elected officials and teachers working hand in hand to come up with sensible ways to assess our students.”

Tutwiler’s position in favor of keeping MCAS as a graduation requirement aligns with that of former governor Jane Swift, a  Republican, who has also voiced concerns about the implications of removing standardized assessments.

“While there are innovative improvements to testing that the Commonwealth should consider, such as utilizing more formative assessments to target necessary and personalized interventions for students sooner in their learning journey, wholesale elimination of any accountability will exacerbate the already unacceptable gaps in student achievement between students,” Swift told NewBostonPost last year.

Critics of the ballot question emphasize that standardized tests like the MCAS have been helpful in providing data that inform educational policy and funding decisions. They argue that maintaining a standardized assessment is key to monitoring the progress and of students making sure that schools remain accountable for outcomes.

A WBUR/CommonWealth Beacon poll released last month found that public opinion on Question 2 is somewhat evenly divided. The poll found that 51 percent of Bay State residents support the measure, while 34 percent oppose it, and 15 percent either did not know or refused to answer.

Historically in Massachusetts, ballot questions require a solid majority in polls before elections in order to maintain a majority of voters in the election, because late-deciding voters tend to go against a new proposal. Rich Parr, research director for MassInc Polling Group, which conducted the poll, said that the Yes side is in a “precarious position,” meaning he’s unsure if the measure will pass.

Voters are set to determine Question 2 in the general election on Tuesday, November 5. 

 

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