This election gives voters the rare opportunity to take a significant step toward greater educational equity and quality by freeing our students from the antiquated MCAS graduation requirement.
Here’s why I am voting Yes on Question 2, which will keep MCAS testing and maintain our state’s highly regarded education standards but end the requirement that students pass MCAS tests in English, math and science to graduate.
The requirement takes way too much time away from learning. Elizabeth Wood, principal of South Hadley High School said, “In high school, I start to retest in November. I retest in February. I test in March. I retest in March. I test in May and I test in June. So, all that time spent testing could be valuable time spent teaching and learning.”
The test hurts students as teachers are pressured to narrow the curriculum to what is on the test. And the tests punish vulnerable students. The Annenberg Institute found 85% of students who never pass the required tests are English learners and students with disabilities.
These problems afflict Brookline and districts statewide. We can do better. Visit the Yes on 2 website to learn more and volunteer to help.
Read the original article, MCAS results show continued decrease in English scores, math stays steady