Ashland mom says replacing MCAS graduation requirement will improve state education

As the parent of two children in Ashland Public Schools , including a 10-year-old son with a learning disability, I have long been alarmed by the impact that the MCAS graduation requirement has on children of all ages. That is why I’m fighting for Massachusetts to replace this requirement with a more common-sense measure, one where districts certify that graduating students have mastered the skills and knowledge they need, as decided by the state’s rigorous and comprehensive academic standards.

Throughout my son’s time in Ashland Public Schools, other local parents of kids with special needs and I have discussed our concern about the harm caused to our children by an over-emphasis on a single test. Many of us feel the state needs to change the graduation requirement once and for all, before it impacts even one more high school senior’s future. Educators need to be free to teach children as individuals, based on their needs, and inspire a love of learning. Right now, the MCAS graduation requirement is getting in the way of that. At the same time, we know that MCAS scores are not an accurate or fair measure of student achievement — teachers' classroom assessments are much better.

When I found out that the Massachusetts Teachers Association , parent groups and public education advocates were involved in a ballot initiative campaign to replace the graduation requirement, I jumped at the chance to work with my children’s educators to ensure we can prepare all students for success.

At the same time, I was grappling with the stress of MCAS season. The night before my son’s first MCAS test this spring, one of his educators suggested some techniques I could use to calm his overwhelming anxiety. In the weeks before the MCAS started, I got feedback from his educators that he was having some behavioral issues, and they thought it was because of the upcoming MCAS.

The high-stakes graduation requirement tied to the MCAS creates a system where teachers feel pressure to teach to the test, rather than engaging students in an exciting curriculum. It’s so important, especially for kids with learning disabilities, that they maintain a drive to learn. I’ve seen how this teaching to the test disengages my son. His school days are significantly better before MCAS season begins because he has a consistent schedule, and his educators can teach him material that meets the state standards in a way that’s fun and exciting. During the MCAS, there are so many changes to his schedule, and it throws him off, affecting his ability to learn.

Through collecting signatures for the ballot campaign, I’ve learned that it isn’t just the parents of kids with disabilities who are concerned about the test-based graduation requirement. Students of color, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and students learning English as a new language are also disproportionately harmed by the graduation requirement. But the bottom line is that the high-stakes nature of these tests heightens the stress levels and pressure on all public school students in our state.

Many people I speak with about this don’t even know what the MCAS is, or that their kids will have to pass all sections of this test in 10th grade as a graduation requirement. And they are alarmed to learn about this unfair and narrow measure. A lot of people, especially those with kids in middle and high school, were quick to sign the petition to place the question on the ballot.

If we replace the graduation requirement, students will still take the MCAS — because it’s required by federal law — but we won’t be misusing the test. We will see students thriving as educators do what they do best — engaging students and getting them excited about learning and helping them develop the knowledge and skills they need to prepare for college and careers.

I know we can reach this better future, for my children and for all the children in our state. We need to replace the graduation requirement tied to MCAS, once and for all.

Joy Ahmed is an Ashland resident.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Ashland mom says replacing MCAS graduation requirement will improve state education