With the passage of Question 2, voters are welcoming a new era in our public schools
With the passage of Question 2, voters are welcoming a new era in our public schools
MTA leadership: 'This is the beginning of more holistic and thorough assessments of student work'
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy issued the following statement following the announcement that voters approved Question 2.
In passing Question 2, Massachusetts voters have proclaimed that they are ready to let teachers teach, and students learn, without the onerous effects of a high-stakes standardized test undermining the mission of public education: to prepare all students for future success as citizens, workers and creative, happy adults.
This is truly a collective victory. We are so proud and thankful for everyone who made phone calls, knocked on doors, collected signatures — anything to talk to voters about the urgent need to stop using the MCAS as a graduation requirement. Tens of thousands of educators, parents and public education advocates made it possible for Question 2 to hold a commanding lead throughout election night.
For years, educators in classrooms across the Commonwealth have been voicing concerns about the harmful impact of the MCAS graduation requirement. Students who were passing their courses were being denied diplomas because of this requirement. Educators were forced to narrow the curriculum in order to teach to the high-stakes test. After having raised the alarm in the Legislature for over a decade without resolution to the problem, educators and our allies finally said, 'enough is enough.' Leading a broad coalition, the MTA made this issue a top priority and brought other unions and education activists together to gather 130,000 signatures to put this on the ballot and give the people a chance to vote.
Massachusetts has long had the best public schools in the country, and that’s because of the dedication of educators and the commitment of legislators and policymakers to provide every student with the opportunity to thrive. We see this as a victory to build upon as all of us who want what is best for students continue to address significant needs in our schools, including supporting student mental health and providing funding to districts in need.
Our schools will stop punishing students who simply do not do well on standardized tests, for whatever reason.
Change is never easy or swift. When it comes to our children’s education, we must be certain that we are acting in their best interests. But there are no better experts in what our children need to succeed academically than the educators working every day in the classrooms of our public schools.
With this election victory, voters have welcomed a new era in our public schools. This is the beginning of more holistic and thorough assessments of student work. We also are interested in continuing to discuss making the MassCore course of study available to all students in the Commonwealth. But the first achievement is complete: Our schools will stop punishing students who simply do not do well on standardized tests, for whatever reason.
Massachusetts public schools are excellent because we have a highly skilled and trained workforce of educators, and because we have high, uniform standards that spell out what students shall be taught in each subject from year to year – and these standards apply to every single school district. We have curriculum frameworks, grading and educator evaluations all aligned with the standards. And thanks to other initiatives we in the MTA have championed, such as the Student Opportunity Act and the Fair Share Amendment, Massachusetts has more funding for its schools and gains for families’ health and well-being.
This victory is shared by every educator and student in Massachusetts public schools.