CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE: State Auditor Diana DiZoglio Endorses Yes on 2, Calling for Accountability Without the Harm of High-Stakes Testing
Bourne, MA (October 4, 2024) — The Yes on 2 campaign today announced the endorsement of Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, a staunch advocate for transparency, accountability, and equity. DiZoglio, a product of Massachusetts public schools and community colleges, knows firsthand the challenges students face and the importance of equitable educational practices. Her endorsement adds significant weight to the campaign, building on a wave of endorsements this week with just one month until the November election..
Auditor DiZoglio, a seasoned public servant with a background in advocacy for working families, emphasized that accountability in education remains crucial, but that the MCAS test in its current form is not the solution:
“We absolutely need to track progress, but high stakes standardized tests like MCAS are not the only way to measure how students are measuring up. Growing up in Greater Lawrence, I witnessed firsthand how the MCAS graduation requirement disproportionately impacts students from marginalized communities and English language learners. We should not be letting a single test determine whether a student is allowed to graduate. By voting Yes on 2, we will keep MCAS as one data point among many, ensuring accountability while giving all students a fair shot at success.”
The Yes on 2 initiative seeks to reduce the power of the MCAS test, removing its role as a graduation requirement, while keeping it as one of several tools available to assess student readiness. This balanced approach ensures that Massachusetts remains committed to high education standards while promoting a more equitable and comprehensive evaluation system that includes GPA, coursework, and teacher feedback.
In response, the Yes on 2 campaign released this statement from MTA President, Max Page:
“We stand with our students and teachers in maintaining high standards for education, not high-stakes testing. We are thrilled to have Auditor DiZoglio join our diverse coalition. Together, we can ensure that all Massachusetts students have the opportunity to succeed, without being unfairly held back by a standardized test.”
