Trahan: Vote ‘yes’ on 2 to eliminate MCAS requirement

As a proud Lowell Public Schools graduate and the parent of two girls in public schools, I know we must do everything in our power to help students and educators succeed in the classroom. While MCAS is an important part of the equation when it comes to measuring students’ growth, its use as a one-size-fits-all graduation requirement leaves hundreds of the most vulnerable in our schools behind each year, many of whom are in gateway cities like the ones I represent. I strongly believe that more resources and services must be allocated to schools to help those students succeed, and I plan to vote for Question 2 to ensure that, in the meantime, students who meet academic and attendance requirements to graduate but struggle to pass all three MCAS exams don’t have their futures upended by being denied a diploma.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan

Lowell, MA