Retirees Against High Stakes Testing
Educators have long opposed the use of a one-size-fits-all high stakes standardized test. We worked hard on passing Question 2, which ended MCAS as a high school graduation requirement.
Following the passage of Question 2, Governor Maura Healey created a graduation council to explore what skills and knowledge students need to thrive after high school. The council hosted listening sessions through the state to get feedback on questions including:
What coursework and learning experiences should students complete for college, career, and civic life? How should students demonstrate their learning? How should we measure and assess student learning? What supports and pathways should we provide to students to meet the same high standard for graduation?
People's Forums on Graduation Readiness
The Retirees Against High-Stakes Testing subcommittee worked collaboratively with Citizens for Public Schools to host People's Forums on Graduation Readiness to hear from more concerned citizens of the Commonwealth.
The committee, in collaboration with CPS, has compiled
and analyzed all of the responses of participants in nine People’s Forums held
in Cambridge, New Bedford, Worcester, East Boston, Dorchester, the South End of
Boston, Lowell, Salisbury and by Zoom (aimed at Western Massachusetts and rural
participants). Here is a summary of our findings from all of the
People’s Forums.