Pushback: I’m voting ‘yes’ on all 5 state ballot questions

by Al Norman 15 October 2024

I’m voting “yes” on all five state ballot questions. To wit:

Question 2: YES. MCAS tests should not be a high school graduation requirement.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test should not be a high school diploma requirement. Students already have to demonstrate over time their mastery of the competencies as established by their school districts. State law requires students earn a passing score on the grade 10 MCAS tests in English, math and science, technology and engineering. Some students don’t perform well at test-taking.

Question 2 supporters say the MCAS graduation requirement “creates classroom environments filled with anxiety and stress,” to the detriment of “excitement about learning.” Many teachers complain they waste time “teaching to the test.” They say MCAS is a “one-size-fits-all” exam that doesn’t measure other student achievement metrics, such as grade-point average, coursework, and teacher assessments. These years of work are better measures of a student than a standardized test.