Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
South Shore businesses are committed to supporting high-quality public education that ensures all students have the opportunity to succeed. One foundation of this commitment is the measurement of student progress to provide targeted support for those who struggle. For nearly 25 years, the Massachusetts education reform law has relied on a consistent statewide assessment—known as the MCAS test—to gauge student learning against a common benchmark.
The South Shore Chamber of Commerce Board has voted to protect this standard by opposing Question 2 on this year’s ballot. Question 2 proposes to allow local school districts to establish their own competency standards, opting out of the statewide measurement. Currently, while local high schools may set graduation standards, these are in addition to the state's baseline competency requirements. If passed, the ballot measure would permit districts to forgo these minimum standards, choosing their own criteria regardless of rigor.
The MCAS has proven valuable, with the vast majority of students passing the test, while also identifying underperforming schools where additional resources can be directed. Removing this standard would undermine the state's progress in maintaining a robust public education system, widely recognized as one of the nation's best, and could negatively impact Massachusetts's reputation and economic strength.
For further information, including details on supporters and opponents of the proposal, please follow this link: If you are not familiar with the question two good non-partisan analysis can be found here:
The South Shore Chamber of Commerce Board has voted to protect this standard by opposing Question 2 on this year’s ballot. Question 2 proposes to allow local school districts to establish their own competency standards, opting out of the statewide measurement. Currently, while local high schools may set graduation standards, these are in addition to the state's baseline competency requirements. If passed, the ballot measure would permit districts to forgo these minimum standards, choosing their own criteria regardless of rigor.
The MCAS has proven valuable, with the vast majority of students passing the test, while also identifying underperforming schools where additional resources can be directed. Removing this standard would undermine the state's progress in maintaining a robust public education system, widely recognized as one of the nation's best, and could negatively impact Massachusetts's reputation and economic strength.
For further information, including details on supporters and opponents of the proposal, please follow this link: If you are not familiar with the question two good non-partisan analysis can be found here:
