'Day of Action' for advocates looking to remove MCAS as graduation requirement
WORCESTER, Mass. - Advocates for the 'Yes on Two' campaign held a statewide day of action Saturday. The ballot initiative looks to remove MCAS testing as a graduation requirement.
Campaign supporters and volunteers held an event in Worcester. Some advocates are educators in the city. They say it creates unnecessary stress for students who may not test well.
"Right now about 700 students a year meet every other expectation for graduation, have passed other classes," said educator and parent Care Berg-Powers. "But this bubble test says that they're not."
"Kids learn in lots of different ways," emphasized Worcester science teacher Carolyn Armitage. "But in order to get them prepped, we have to teach them a certain way. And there are some kids who just don't get it."
Opponents of the initiative say the MCAS is a way to measure the proficiency of students. They say removing it will take away a tool to measure a student's strengths and weaknesses.
Voters will make their choice on the issue in November.
Watch full video here: https://spectrumnews1.com/ma/worcester/news/2024/08/17/mcas-test-ballot-initiative-worcester-081724
