Letter: It’s Time to End High Stakes Testing and Empower our Students

Each school year, one of the more stressful times for my child is during MCAS testing. This is the longest and most intensive standardized test that students currently take. Throughout the school year, a considerable portion of classroom time is dedicated to preparing students for the lengthy computer-based tests they take in the spring. This includes completing practice exams, adjusting lesson plans, and reviewing materials and lessons aimed at boosting their MCAS scores.

My daughter often comes home from these testing days and is completely exhausted and frustrated, often falling asleep after school. In 2 years, my child will be in 10th grade and required to take the MCAS that determine whether they can graduate high school. Currently, as hard as my daughter works, her MCAS scores would not allow her to graduate high school. Now imagine failing this test and what a life may be like without a diploma.

How can we continue to allow students to fail high school based on one multiple choice standardized test that notoriously stacks the deck against students of color, those with anxiety, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities?

Ballot Question 2 is asking to eliminate the MCAS requirement for graduation in Massachusetts. Voting Yes on Question 2 will not eliminate MCAS testing altogether, however it will end the MCAS graduation requirement and instead lean back on the Commonwealth's high education standards that have made us a leader in education.

Courtenay St. Germain

Rehoboth