Dr. Patrick Tutwiler at Holyoke High School as part of a series of graduation listening sessions.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
HOLYOKE — Massachusetts Education Secretary and interim Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Dr. Patrick Tutwiler visited Holyoke High School on June 5 as part of a series of listening sessions to discuss potential new statewide graduation requirements.
The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced a series of listening sessions across the state to inform Gov. Maura Healey’s K-12 Statewide Graduation Council’s recommendations on how Massachusetts can ensure all students graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in college, careers, and civic life, regardless of background or circumstance and demonstrate these qualities through a consistent statewide set of expectations.
These listening sessions will inform the Graduation Council’s recommendations on a new statewide graduation requirement, including the role of assessment, the potential for differentiated pathways to earning the competency determination and the completion of additional experiences that demonstrate civic, college and career readiness.
The six evening listening sessions, including one virtual option, began on April 10 at Taunton High School and have engaged a broad range of stakeholders, including students, parents and caregivers, educators, school counselors, labor representatives, education advocacy organizations, legislators and the business community.
In January, Healey signed an executive order establishing a graduation council task force who were tasked with answering a couple important questions, what should it mean or what does it mean to earn a high school diploma?
Healey discussed her hopes for the listening sessions.
She said, “Our administration is committed to ensuring every high school graduate is prepared for success, not just in college and careers, but as engaged members of their communities. The work of the Graduation Council is critical to advancing this goal. These listening sessions will give our communities the opportunity to share their voices and shape the recommendations that will ultimately strengthen our education system for years to come.”
Tutwiler explained that since the successful ballot initiative of question two, the MCAS will not be a graduation requirement for high school students and is no longer required to meet the competency determination.
“That is a vote that we accept, which is why we’re looking forward, not backward, to thinking about now what in terms of high school graduation requirements,” he said.
Even though MCAS testing is no longer a requirement for graduation, students still must take the test to gather data.
Based on the timeline of the graduation council, right now they are in the research and input phase by hearing from the state.
Tutwiler said the council’s plan is to deliver a plan and set of recommendations to the governor and the Legislature by the end of the end of 2025.
The Holyoke Teachers Association along with students, staff and parents gathered to express no more standardized testing, and a bigger focus on performance testing and building a portfolio from the time you start school to the time you graduate high school.
For more information on the council, members and listening sessions, visit Mass.gov/K12GradCouncil.
Readers who were unable to attend any of the listening sessions can also fill out a survey on the website to express their feelings.
