Letter: Vote ‘yes’ on Question 2

25 September 2024

To parents, grandparents, neighbors and more, please vote “yes” on Question 2 this November! It will mean that passing the MCAS will no longer be required for a high school diploma.

Great idea, right? To begin with, too much time is spent every spring preparing for and taking the test when students could be engaged in projects, field trips and collaborative problem solving. We all know that students thrive when they are excited about learning. Also, the graduation requirement narrows the scope of the curriculum, and some students are just not good at test-taking. Were you one of those?

Another point: For low-income students, students with English as a Second Language and students with learning disabilities, the MCAS is a poor measure of their abilities. A disproportionate number of these students have been denied their diplomas after taking the MCAS, even when they have fulfilled their local graduation requirements. Hasn’t school already been challenging enough for them?

As a mom, grandma and veteran special education teacher, I ask that we help make this important option a reality. The MCAS will still be in use, but passing it will no longer be a requirement for a high school diploma.

Pixie Holbrook

Conway