I firmly believe that the MCAS should continue to be a high school graduation requirement for students in the Commonwealth, and that voters should vote No on Question 2. While it is not without its flaws, the MCAS plays a vital role in ensuring educational equity and highlighting areas of improvement for schools.
It is a tool that provides valuable insights into the performance of diverse student groups, leading to more informed and targeted educational interventions, as long as that information is shared with teachers.
As a 27-year dedicated teacher and a longtime member of the teacher-led committee that helps develop the questions on the assessments, I can attest to the rigorous two-year review process that addresses bias, incorporates expert evaluations, aligns with curriculum guidelines and reviews for grammatical accuracy before it reaches students.
