By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Massachusetts voters have approved a measure to eliminate the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) as a requirement for high school graduation. The decision, passed with 59% of the vote, has left parents, students, and educators questioning how the change will impact high school education and future graduation standards.
The MCAS, implemented to assess academic proficiency, includes three sections: English language arts, mathematics, and a science component, such as biology or introduction to physics. High school sophomores take the exam to determine graduation eligibility. In 2019, 1.8% of students failed to pass all three sections, though they could retake the test or appeal.
This vote does not remove MCAS from schools and 10th graders will continue to take the test, but getting a passing grade will no longer be required to graduate. The new graduation requirements are yet to be announced. Removing this graduation standard is meant to lower stress levels in high school children and help teachers tailor their approaches. Many teachers report that teaching to the test is difficult and they cannot spend as much time as they’d like on certain subjects and sections.
Students report high-stress levels around MCAS time, feeling unprepared for the exam or unsure of what will be present on it. Standardized testing forces kids to learn only one way, which for many neurodivergent children and those with disabilities can be very hard. Teaching to the test does not always give the extra space and time for educators to spend time helping struggling students.
Opponents of the change argue that the MCAS sets essential academic standards. They believe maintaining the requirement ensures students are prepared for life after high school and provides an opportunity for students to develop stress management skills.
Despite mixed opinions, the vote to remove the MCAS graduation requirement signals a significant shift in Massachusetts education. Local educators and school officials declined to comment on the measure, and state education leaders have yet to outline the next steps for graduation criteria.
