Diplomas for all: Massachusetts will vote on ending state graduation standards

The Massachusetts Teachers Association has spent more than $1 million to eliminate the state's graduation requirements, reports Amanda Geduld on The 74. If the union-backed Question 2 passes in November, students would not have to pass the English, math and science portions of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams to earn a diploma. Instead, each district would set its own requirements.

Fifty-eight percent of voters support the measure in a recent poll, she writes.

Currently, students can try MCAS four times, appeal or graduate via an alternate pathway. One way or another, 99 percent get their diploma, say MCAS advocates.

Among the 1 percent are students with disabilities and English Learners. Those who fail the MCAS usually don't meet district graduation requirements either, says Evan Horowitz, executive director of Tufts' Center for State Policy Analysis.  

It's "offensive" to lower standards for students with disabilities, argues Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union and the parent of five children, one of whom receives special education services. “[My son] absolutely took and passed the MCAS," she told Geduld. “The idea that we would just toss away data and call it social justice,” she said, “is just — it’s wild to me… we need more data and information on our kids so that we can be better equipped to help them and figure out what the challenges are.”

In the wake of pandemic learning loss, many states are lowering standards to get students to a diploma. Massachusetts was a leader in using standards and testing to drive accountability. If it abandons that effort, says James Peyser, the former education secretary, it will be a signal to other states.

MCAS scores predict college success and future earnings, says John Papay, director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University. He worries that immigrant students who are learning English and students with disabilities aren't "getting the skills they need out of the Massachusetts public education system," writes Geldud.

Half of the students who don't reach competency on MCAS are in 15 districts statewide, including Boston. Dropping the exit exam -- and lowering local requirements -- could get every student to a diploma. But they wouldn't be prepared for . . . anything.

Jennifer Amento, a second-grade teacher, explains why she's voting to "keep the state assessment as a graduation requirement and ensure students . . . graduate with the skills they need to lead  successful lives."