BOSTON—Yesterday, Massachusetts residents voted in favor of Question 2, eliminating the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) as a graduation requirement. We remain deeply concerned about the potential impact of this decision on students across the state, as removing this standard without a viable alternative risks a return to a time when our most vulnerable students were often overlooked, facing the quiet injustice of diminished expectations. Furthermore, we recognize that this decision sends a troubling message on a national scale regarding our commitment to educational rigor and high standards.

With this change, Massachusetts is left without a statewide graduation standard, highlighting the urgent need for the state to enact meaningful policies that ensure equitable access to high-quality curricula across all districts. The state should also work to develop an alternative statewide graduation standard that adequately prepares all students in the Commonwealth for life beyond high school. Without such a standard, we risk creating a disjointed system in which there is no assurance that students across the state’s 306 school districts receive a comparable education.

Moving forward, we must prioritize ensuring that all students receive the supports they need to graduate fully prepared for a rigorous post-secondary education and fulfilling careers. This involves providing targeted resources and interventions for students facing greater challenges, including our students with disabilities and multilingual learners, who are traditionally underserved by the system.

Equally important, we must seize this moment to engage students, teachers, families, and the broader community in meaningful conversations that shape improvements to the MCAS exams. This will ensure that the exam becomes more culturally and linguistically inclusive and assesses a broader range of skills and knowledge. 

The EdTrust team in Massachusetts stands ready to work with education leaders, stakeholders, and policymakers across the state to drive reforms that close opportunity gaps and strengthen supports systems for our most vulnerable students. Together, we can forge a path that upholds and strengthens Massachusetts’ commitment to educational excellence and equity.

For media inquiries, please contact Chanthy Lopes at Clopestoro@edtrust.org. 

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About EdTrust in Massachusetts

EdTrust in MA is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the American education system. Through our research and advocacy, Ed Trust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where students will thrive. For more information, see edtrust.org/Massachusetts or follow us on X.