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In addition to the series of listening sessions, the governor's graduation council has posted a survey to get public input on what should happen following the elimination of the MCAS graduation requirement.
Following the passage of Question 2 to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement, Governor Maura Healey has created a graduation council to explore what skills and knowledge students need to thrive after high school. The council will be hosting listening sessions through the state to get feedback on questions including:
We need educators, parents and students to be the primary voice at these events. Council members need to hear directly from you – the experts. Please come prepared to speak at these events.
This story appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of MTA Today.
On Nov. 6, Danielle Seltzer’s first-period English class at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School was buzzing about the results of the presidential election.
One student finally asked, "Hey, what happened with the MCAS thing?"
"I said it passed, MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement," Seltzer recalled recently. "They all cheered."
That particular class, Seltzer noted, was for students with special education plans. She said the students are all capable of passing grade-level work, but doing so requires extra effort.
"One young woman — a ninth-grade student — said, ‘I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about MCAS anymore because I can actually focus on school,’ " Seltzer said. "What I didn’t fully realize until that moment, was that at age 14 because of the MCAS and because of who these students were, they already came into high school thinking that they didn’t have a chance. I am so inspired and reinvigorated by the fact that they now have that chance."
Voters decisively passed Question 2 in November, ending the use of the 10th grade MCAS exams as a state-mandated high school graduation requirement. Supporters of the ballot initiative driven by MTA members successfully argued that the high stakes of the MCAS exam narrowed learning and unfairly penalized students who just don’t perform well on standardized tests. In passing Question 2, Massachusetts joined the vast majority of states that have abandoned standardized tests as high school graduation requirements. Just six states continue to use standardized tests for graduation requirements, down from 27 states in 2012.
The passage of Question 2 in November 2024 made clear that the people of Massachusetts are demanding a public education system that maintains the Commonwealth’s high standards, is centered on real teaching and learning, and that prepares all students to thrive upon high school graduation and throughout their lives.
An Act to Ensure that All Students Are Prepared for Future Success is the next step in realizing this vision for public education in Massachuse s by expanding access to the rigorous MassCore program of study and creating a special commission to study and make recommendations on more holistic and accurate methods of assessing students that align with the skills and knowledge that Massachusetts wants our students to learn and develop. Specifically, this legislation will:.
Q. What is the competency determination?
A. The competency determination is simply a standard for a student’s competency in certain subject areas. Districts can and do have specific coursework, credits and attendance requirements as part of local graduation requirements. The competency determination is no longer tied to a single-point-in-time standardized test. Rather, districts will certify students have met competency in the same high standards based on completion of coursework that meets the same standards.
This interactive map details the results from the Question 2 ballot initiative by municipality. The communities highlighted in blue are those where a majority voted in support of Question 2. Red and orange are those communities where a majority voted against the ballot question. Darker shades show municipalities in which 60% or more of the electorate voted for or against Question 2.
As this map clearly demonstrates, the vast majority of cities and towns across Massachusetts spoke loud and clear that they are ready for a new era for public education in the Commonwealth that is centered on real teaching and learning and that prepares all students to thrive upon high school graduation and beyond.
The proposed “limited use” of MCAS scores for competency determination is a ridiculous back door attempt to salvage a status quo that harmed students and stifled authentic learning for decades.
Read MoreWe know – and voters agreed – that Massachusetts can do better than rely on MCAS results to determine our students’ readiness to graduate from high school.
Read MoreRemoving the graduation requirement for high school students restores our state’s position as a leader in creating best-in-the-country public schools.
Read MoreA fundamental component of the campaign was to correct the injustice of denying diplomas to students who demonstrated through successful completion of coursework.
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FAQ released related to the end of the MCAS graduation requirement.
Read More"Now is the time to transition toward an approach that addresses the depth and breadth of the individualized educational choices and career interests of our students."
Deb McCarthy, MTA Vice President
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.
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