Ballot question 2 could end MCAS graduation requirements

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Ballot question 2 on the ballot for the November election could remove the requirement for the MCAS test.

Ballot question 2 for the November 5th election would change the current Massachusetts law that requires high school students to pass the MCAS in order to graduate.

Across the state, students in every grade level scored lower on the English language arts portion of the MCAS in 2024 than they did last year. Education experts across the country have been declaring literacy among young learners a crisis.

Educators say there was a significant learning loss that came with the COVID-19 pandemic and remote schooling which is showing in these standardized test results. Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler says he is opposed to the ballot question that would remove the test requirement. “The Governor and I have been clear that we are opposed to question two. we want to see the MCAS requirement remain,” says Tutwiler. “In particular we want to see a uniform standard for high school graduation.”

Tutwiler says the ballot question seems to dismantle a standard that would result in a scenario of 351 different standards for high school graduation.

He says they are open to exploring the high school graduation scenario but he does not think this is the way to do it.

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