Since 2003 high school students needed to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests–English, math, and biology–to graduate.
Within two years of the MCAS requirement, Massachusetts took first place in the National Assessment of Educational Progress rankings. We’ve remained there ever since.
Despite this, last November voters approved a teacher-union-backed initiative to end the MCAS graduation requirement.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the teachers union spent a staggering $15 million to kill the comprehensive exams.
While the voters may have been duped, many state lawmakers know that eliminating standardized graduation requirements is a bad idea. The Wall Street Journal reports that,
State legislative leaders haven’t ruled out the possibility of reversing the measure. Senate President Karen Spilka, who opposed the initiative, said in October that lawmakers will “have some discussions if it passes and then we’ll follow up.” House Speaker Ron Mariano agrees: “Someone has to evaluate what we’re doing in our public school system.”
The article continues,
“We’re going from having had a comparatively high standard for high-school graduation to having one of the lowest in the nation,” says former state Education Secretary Paul Reville
Last week two representatives and one senator petitioned bills entitled “An Act fulfilling the promise of education reform.” See SD.1825 and HD.2046.
The bills seek to create a “Promise Commission” that
shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning education in the 21st Century, including but not limited to…multiple modes of assessing learning beyond MCAS [and] broader methods used for accountability that are ambitious, attainable, and compassionate.
To do this “the Commission will dive deep into best practices found in other states and other countries.”
The full text of the bill is attached below.