~ Op-Ed ~ Statement from Senator Lewis on the MCAS Ballot Question

I will be voting in favor of Ballot Question 2 that will end the requirement that a student must achieve a minimum score on the 10th grade MCAS exams in order to receive a Massachusetts high school diploma. I also intend to file legislation in January (at the start of the new legislative session) to implement an alternative, non-test-based, consistent and rigorous statewide graduation standard.

Standardized tests like MCAS provide important and useful data about student learning and progress. Regardless of the outcome of Question 2, MCAS will continue to be administered in Massachusetts public schools, including in Grade 10. However, standardized tests are imperfect and cannot measure the full scope of skills, knowledge, and competencies that we want to develop in our young people and are critical for their future success. Standardized tests also pose particular challenges for students with disabilities and students who are not native English speakers. Research has shown that test scores are highly correlated with student demographics, like family income.

I believe we can improve and strengthen our public education system for all students, especially disadvantaged students, if we replace the MCAS graduation requirement with a more holistic graduation standard. The legislation I will be filing will require all students (with certain exceptions) to complete MassCore, a recommended set of courses for high school students. MassCore was adopted by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2007 and is currently recommended for all students, but not required. Requiring completion of MassCore in order to receive a high school diploma would strengthen course offerings across all high schools, ensure that all students are receiving a rigorous education, and provide a consistent statewide graduation standard. My legislation will also consider other ways to encourage high-quality student learning experiences, like capstone projects, service learning, vocational/technical education, advanced coursework, and work-based learning. In drafting this legislation, I will be consulting with a wide variety of stakeholders and listening to the voices of students, parents, teachers, and school administrators.

Moving away from a graduation requirement based on standardized test scores and replacing it with course requirements and other richer student learning experiences would also align Massachusetts with the vast majority of other states.

State Senator Jason Lewis

Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education