I am writing in support of voting yes on Question 2 on the Massachusetts state ballot.
Elimination of MCAS as a high school graduation requirement. As the parent of a high school student in special education, this issue is important to my family, and it is backed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
The MCAS is a series of standardized tests given annually to all public school students in the state from grades 3-10. They are created by committees outside of a child’s school with no input from the teachers who have been instructing the children the whole year. They are meant to measure how public school districts are meeting state standards set by the curriculum frameworks. Currently, a student must pass the 10th grade English, math, and science MCAS tests to earn a high school diploma.
Some children pass the tests effortlessly. However, for the many families with students in special education, the MCAS experience is fraught with fear and frustration. It does not matter if our children have passed all of their classes, have teacher recommendations, and a roster of activities — if they fail the MCAS in 10th grade they do not earn a high school diploma.
MCAS is one test given to all students, special ed students among them, regardless of what their legally binding Individual Education Plans say. There are strict limits to what accommodations a student on an IEP can be offered during testing. For example, a child’s IEP may call for repeating or rephrasing language in the classroom. That doesn’t matter on MCAS days. A proctor may reread a set of directions for a child, but they cannot rephrase. They can only stand before your child and reread the directions as written from a script no matter how many times your child says, “I don’t understand.” It is cruel, and it happens every year in every school in Massachusetts.
The fact is, some kids never pass. The language, organization, format, and stress of the test are completely counter-intuitive to what some students, particularly those with learning disabilities, need to demonstrate understanding.
Eliminating the graduation requirement will not lessen the proven quality of education in Massachusetts. Schools must still adhere to the high standards of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and administer the MCAS. Districts will still be able to gather data the test provides as to how students are measuring up to target goals. Massachusetts schools were leaders before the MCAS graduation requirement, and there is no reason why this should change after giving power back to the teachers and schools to determine who is eligible for a diploma.
Please vote yes on Question 2. Yes to high standards — but not high stakes testing. There are so many different ways to be smart. There are so many different ways to “show what you know.” Filling in the bubbles on a test booklet should not be so high stakes.
With hope for the future,
Melissa M. Cybulski
Longmeadow
