CNHI NEWS: Poll shows support for graduation requirement

By Christian M. Wade, Statehouse Reporter
Originally appeared in CNHI News on December 10, 2024

A majority of Massachusetts voters want a new high school graduation requirement following a repeal of the MCAS mandate, according to a new poll from a group that wants the state Legislature to “modify” the voter-approved law.

The survey released by the Mass Opportunity Alliance found 75% of voters support the creation of a new, statewide standard to replace the decades-old mandate for 10th-grade students to pass a series of standardized tests known as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System to graduate.

“One thing is for sure: Massachusetts became one of the top states for public education because of its high standards,” the group said in a statement. “Instead of leaving a vacuum of removed graduation requirements, voters agree something new should be put in place to solidify Massachusetts’ public education legacy for years to come.”

The pollsters said a majority, 68%, of respondents said yes when asked whether they believe the state Legislature should “modify” ballot questions approved by the voters.

“Our state legislature should ensure that Massachusetts’ public education system remains one of the most competitive in the world,” the group said. “That does not mean legislators need to defy the will of the voters, but it does mean filling in the blanks left by the recently-passed ballot measure.”

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which put Question 2 on the ballot, blasted the poll and the group’s push to modify the law, accusing them of “trying to change the outcome of the election and override the will of the voters through legislative maneuvering.”

“The public understood the harm posed by a high-stakes test used as a graduation requirement,” MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy said in a joint statement. “Educators effectively articulated how our state’s high academic standards were actually diminished when so much emphasis was placed on preparing students for a standardized test.”

The MTA said it will oppose “any efforts to create a new requirement that narrows the learning experience and discriminates against learning styles” saying that by approving Question 2 voters “voiced their support for linking a diploma to the work students complete throughout their high school career.”

Question 2, which was approved by nearly 60% in the Nov. 5 elections, scrapped the requirement for 10th graders to demonstrate proficiency in math, English and science to graduate from high school.

Students will still be required to take the 10th-grade MCAS exams, but no longer need to earn a passing score or other state approval. School districts will need to set their own criteria for graduation based on statewide educational standards.

The referendum was the most expensive of five on the Nov. 5 ballot statewide, with both sides raising and spending nearly $22 million combined to sway undecided voters.

The MTA and other backers of Question 2 argued that Massachusetts was an outlier as one of a handful of states that requires students to pass a test to graduate. They say testing isn’t a complete picture of a student’s abilities, and leaves those who don’t pass it behind.

While the alliance didn’t specifically campaign against Question 2, it argued in TV and digital ads that standardized testing was necessary to expose inequities among students and school districts, measure trends in student outcomes, and gauge readiness for college and the workplace.

The group points to state education data showing only 12 of the state’s 50 largest school districts require students to complete the coursework that makes them eligible for admission to any of the state’s public colleges or universities.

Applicants to public state colleges and universities are required to pass a total of 17 courses in school, including courses in English, mathematics, science, social science, foreign language, and electives, according to the state Department of Higher Education.

Despite these requirements, only 19 of the 50 largest school districts in the state require four years of math classes, the alliance noted.

“Maintaining a high state-level bar for high school graduation and investing in efforts to help more students achieve that goal is key,” the group said. “It’s a proven strategy to help these students succeed in post-secondary education and their careers.”

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.