MTA responds to new DESE guidance on eliminating MCAS graduation requirement
MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy issued the following statement in response to the latest DESE guidance on student competency determinations following the passage of Question 2 to eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement.
Following the passage of Question 2, this week the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released updated guidance, allowing students previously denied a diploma an opportunity to obtain a high school graduation certificate.
Providing a pathway to a high school diploma to those who did not achieve cut-off scores on MCAS exams, yet successfully completed their coursework based on our high state academic standards, is a fair and just application of the new graduation regulations following the passage of Question 2.
Individuals without a high school diploma lack a basic credential that is necessary to pursue employment and educational opportunities. A fundamental component of the campaign to end the use of MCAS as a graduation requirement was to correct the injustice of denying diplomas to students who demonstrated through successful completion of coursework that they have met the state’s academic standards. These standards ensure students are ready for college and career pathways after high school.
We are hopeful that the thousands of students over the years who completed their coursework, yet were denied a diploma because of MCAS scores, will be able to correct – and eliminate – a disadvantage that they never should have had to face.
The document released by DESE this week was updated from an earlier version produced in November following the passage of Question 2 in the Nov. 5 election.