Massachusetts teachers union seeks to eliminate graduation standardized test mandate.
The Battle Over Standardized Testing in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts attorney general is on the verge of making a crucial decision this week. Supporters of a petition to eliminate the state’s standardized test requirements for graduation are eagerly waiting to find out if they will be allowed to collect signatures for a statewide referendum.
A Chance for Change
The proposed referendum, backed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, aims to grant high school students their diplomas without having to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam. This would provide an alternative path to graduation for students who have completed their coursework.
Currently, Massachusetts law mandates that students take the MCAS test in 10th grade and achieve a minimum score in math, English, and science to graduate. In 2022, the state Board of Education decided to raise the minimum passing score, citing concerns about the academic performance of students who were passing the tests.
MTA’s Commitment to Students
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Max Page, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and Deb McCarthy, Vice President of the MTA, expressed their dedication to creating the best learning environment for all students. They argued that the MCAS graduation requirement was detrimental to students.
Page and McCarthy explained, “Our Board of Directors voted to support a ballot initiative filed by parents, educators, and recent high school graduates. This initiative aims to eliminate the harmful graduation requirement tied to MCAS exams. Instead, students would be eligible for a high school diploma by completing coursework that demonstrates mastery of competencies aligned with the state’s high academic standards. It’s important to note that MTA educators are not advocating for discontinuing MCAS exams altogether.”
However, the union’s endorsement of the referendum faced strong criticism from Bob Eitel, President and Co-founder of the Defense of Freedom Institute and a former Department of Education official. Eitel accused the union of wanting to graduate students who lack basic reading and writing skills.
A Contentious Debate
Eitel stated, ”The fact that this teacher union wants to graduate students who cannot read or do math tells you everything you need to know about its priorities. This union does not care if students have learned the educational basics. It cares about protecting teachers who fail to do their jobs, and students pay the price.”
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell will announce on Wednesday whether the petition qualifies as a ballot initiative. A spokesperson for Campbell directed the Washington Examiner to the state website, which outlines the criteria for submitting a ballot initiative.
Testing Tensions
Teachers unions have long been at odds with the expansion of standardized testing requirements and have frequently advocated for scaling back existing mandates. While some unions oppose standardized testing entirely, others stop short of calling for its complete elimination.
The American Federation of Teachers supports the use of standardized testing to some extent but cautions against solely relying on test scores to evaluate individual student performance. They believe that other factors influencing student achievement should also be considered.
In contrast, the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the country, believes that the current standardized testing system is both inequitable and ineffective in assessing students’ knowledge.
Seeking Equitable Assessment
The NEA states on its website, “To ensure that every student—regardless of their race, origin, or background—can have their learning assessed in an equitable and accurate way, we are coming together to support changes to our testing system.”
As the battle over standardized testing continues, the fate of the petition in Massachusetts hangs in the balance.
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