Law Proposed by Initiative Petition
Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 1, 2024?
Summary
As required by law, summaries are written by the State Attorney General.This proposed law would eliminate the requirement that a student pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests (or other statewide or district-wide assessments) in mathematics, science and technology, and English in order to receive a high school diploma. Instead, in order for a student to receive a high school diploma, the proposed law would require the student to complete coursework certified by the student’s district as demonstrating mastery of the competencies contained in the state academic standards in mathematics, science and technology, and English, as well as any additional areas determined by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
What Your Vote Will Do
As required by law, the statements describing the effect of a “yes” or “no” vote are written jointly by the State Attorney General and the Secretary of the CommonwealthA YES VOTE would eliminate the requirement that students pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) in order to graduate high school but still require students to complete coursework that meets state standards
A NO Vote would make no change in the law relative to the requirement that a student pass the MCAS in order to graduate high school.
Statement of Fiscal Consequences
As required by law, statements of fiscal consequences are written by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The proposed law has no discernible material fiscal consequences for state and municipal government finances.
The proposed law has no discernible material fiscal consequences for state and municipal government finance.
Arguments
As provided by law, the 150-word arguments are written by proponents and opponents of each question, and reflect their opinions. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not endorse these arguments, and does not certify the truth or accuracy of any statement made in these arguments. The names of the individuals and organizations who wrote each argument, and any written comments by others about each argument, are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
In Favor
A Yes on Question 2 gives all students the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. We all agree that high standards help keep our public schools great, and assessments are needed to ensure that students master the knowledge and skills to succeed in life after high school. However, the MCAS is a one-size-fits-all exam that fails to measure other student achievement measures such as GPA, coursework, and teacher assessments in determining if a student is allowed to graduate. Replacing the MCAS graduation requirement with more comprehensive measures will allow teachers to stop teaching to a test and unburden students from a make-or-break standardized test. Voting Yes will allow schools and teachers, together with parents and students, to focus on the most important skills and knowledge to help students succeed in life, rather than having to focus on only those skills that can be measured on a standardized test.
Shelley Scruggs
Parent Volunteer
Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)
2 Heritage Drive, 8th Floor
Quincy, MA 02171-2119
617-878-8000
Against
Vote NO on Question 2.
Question 2 is unfair to kids and will increase inequality. Some school districts will just adopt lower standards so students “graduate” even if they haven’t learned the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
It’s not fair to grant diplomas to kids who aren’t yet ready to graduate. If students cannot pass basic assessments in math, English, or science, we adults should do the hard work to get them up to speed. Instead of supporting kids, Question 2 would abandon them.
Question 2 would remove our only statewide graduation standard. Massachusetts would have less rigorous high school graduation requirements than Mississippi and Alabama.
Question 2 is a radical and untested proposal and should be rejected. Significant changes to our education system should be carefully studied, designed, and implemented by experts to ensure these policies are actually better for our kids.
Vote No on Question 2.
Protect Our Kids’ Future:
Vote No on 2
P.O. Box 130041
Boston, MA 02113
www.protectourkidsfuture.com