For over 20 years, Massachusetts public school students (but not independent school students) have had to endure a high-stakes graduation exam in order to earn a diploma. There has been no evidence that this annual burdensome requirement has in any way improved teaching and learning. Indeed, the vast majority of states with high school exit exams realized they were unfair and unhelpful and have dropped this requirement. The teens who are left behind without a diploma in Massachusetts either have special needs or do not speak English as their primary language. That is fundamentally unfair and discriminatory. “MCAS” means “Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System.” It was never intended to be a single standardized test. Rather, the Legislature intended it to be “comprehensive” and a “system.” I have always trusted multiple forms of assessment by teachers. Time to move away from our ineffective and burdensome exit exam that only encourages teaching to the test, not true education.
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Read the original article, Local educators, experts weigh in on MCAS ballot question