New Statewide Education Initiative: 80 Percent of Mass. Parents Agree Standardized Tests Keep Our Students “Wicked Smart”

New Billboards Around Gillette Stadium, Sports Radio Spots Highlight Strong Public Support for Statewide Standardized Testing

Boston, Mass. – Today, the Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA)—a coalition of parties committed to building a stronger Commonwealth economy—launched a new public education initiative showcasing how statewide standardized testing helps make our students “wicked smart.” 

“A high-quality education is key to giving all students a fair shot at long-term success while keeping our state economically competitive,” said Christopher R. Anderson, former chair of the Massachusetts Board of Education and president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, which helped form MOA alongside the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and Pioneer Institute. 

“Weakening statewide testing standards could jeopardize one of the pillars that helped our education system become one of the best in the world,” said Jay Ash, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership.

“Research points to standardized tests being a major driver of the Commonwealth’s internationally competitive education system,” said Jim Stergios, executive director of Pioneer Institute. “Students do better when teachers can identify where they’re succeeding and where there’s room for improvement, and tests provide those crucial insights.” 

The organization’s new effort aims to protect one of the state’s biggest strengths. While MOA’s Opportunity Report Card—an original data product analyzing the state’s performance across a wide range of metrics—gives Massachusetts a “C+” overall grade, the Commonwealth earns an “A” in education, thanks in part to the MCAS.

The MOA initiative features a new poll of over 500 Massachusetts registered voters (conducted Oct. 10 – 15), which showed strong public support for standardized testing, especially among parents and racial minorities. View the full survey results here.

Key insights include:

• A majority of residents (62 percent) support standardized tests such as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing as a way to hold districts accountable for student performance.
• 70 percent of all parents are supportive of the test. That figure is even higher for those with high school students (80 percent). 
• Several groups are even more supportive of this requirement than the average, including Hispanic (86 percent) and Black (77 percent) residents, Millennials (69 percent), and those in urban areas of the state (72 percent).

Assets include:

• Billboards (view here) placed around Gillette Stadium ahead of the New England Patriots vs. New York Jets game on Sunday, Oct. 27. You can view the creative, which invites viewers to find out why 80 percent of parents agree that “standardized tests keep our students wicked smart,” here.
• A 30-second spot airing on sports radio stations across the state before, during, and after this Sunday’s game. The ad is a play on the “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” gameshow, with contestants asked to provide one reason why Massachusetts has a top-rated education system. The right answer? Standardized testing. Listen to the spot here. 
• Digital advertising and text messaging directing residents to learn more about the initiative.

About Mass Opportunity Alliance

Mass Opportunity Alliance believes a strong business climate means a better quality of life for all. Our mission is to defend and strengthen the Massachusetts business climate, ensure long-term economic success and prosperity, promote social mobility, and enhance economic opportunities for all in the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit MassOpportunity.org.

Learn more about the Mass High Technology Council here, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership here, and Pioneer Institute here.

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